Paymaster General and Cabinet Secretary to appear before Lords Committee

Tomorrow the House of Lords Constitution Committee will be hearing evidence from Jeremy Quin and Simon Case, as part of its inquiry into the appointment and dismissal of permanent secretaries and other senior civil servants.

Giving evidence will be:

• The Rt Hon Jeremy Quin MP, Paymaster General and Minister for the Cabinet Office
• Simon Case, Cabinet Secretary and Head of the Civil Service

Possible areas of questioning include:

• Whether the current level of ministerial involvement in the appointment of senior civil servants strikes the appropriate balance
• Whether there is a risk that greater ministerial involvement in the appointment of senior civil servants would undermine the continuity provided by the civil service
• If ministers are sufficiently aware of their powers in the recruitment of senior civil servants
• Whether the process by which senior civil servants are appointed provides ministers with sufficient confidence that those appointed will possess the knowledge and skills necessary to deliver on their priorities
• The impact greater ministerial involvement in the appointment process would have on permanent secretaries’ role as accounting officers
• The role of the Cabinet Secretary and Head of the Civil Service
• The effect the introduction of five-year tenure has had on the manner and timing of permanent secretaries’ departures
• Whether the Civil Service Commission is adequately independent from the Civil Service.

The session will take place on Tuesday 18 July at 1pm and can be followed live on Parliament TV.