Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask His Majesty's Government which Ministers (1) requested, and (2) approved, the appointment of Ian Corfield as a civil servant in July 2024; and which Minister and/or senior official authorised the Recruitment Principles exception application to the Civil Service Commission.

Ian Corfield was appointed on a short-term basis to carry out urgent work in support of the government’s International Investment Summit in October. A full recruitment process could not have been completed in the time available. He has since been appointed, unpaid, as a direct ministerial appointment.

The Treasury does not comment on the individual contractual arrangements.