Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government what is the formal performance management process for permanent secretaries; who is the designated line manager i of each permanent secretary; what role, if any, ministers play in (1) setting objectives, (2) assessing performance, and (3) contributing to appraisals; whether this is set out in any Cabinet Office guidance; and if so, whether they will place a copy of this guidance in the Library of the House.

As with all other civil servants, the performance of Permanent Secretaries is monitored through formal performance management arrangements. The majority of First Permanent Secretaries report to the Cabinet Secretary with Second Permanent Secretaries reporting to (First Permanent Secretary) Heads of Departments. Performance management activity is undertaken by the relevant line manager.

Objectives for each Permanent Secretary are set at the beginning of the performance year and include input from Ministers. Mid-year and end-year reviews are conducted by the relevant line manager, with feedback/evidence from Ministers forming an important part of the overall performance assessment. Ministers do not participate in mid and end-year review meetings.

Guidance on the process is not published.

In March, the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster announced that the Government will be strengthening performance processes for the SCS.