Issued by the News
Distribution Service on behalf of the Civil Service Commission
The Civil Service Commission today published its annual report
for 2010-11 which details the Commission's role in
regulating appointments to the Civil Service to ensure they are
made on merit on the basis of fair and open competition.
The report also outlines the work of the Commission in hearing
appeals under the Civil Service Code - the ethical code that is
part of the terms and conditions of employment of all civil servants.
Commenting on the report Sir David Normington, First Civil
Service Commissioner, said:
''This was a momentous year for the Civil
Service Commissioners. 156 years after it was first recommended in
the Northcote and Trevelyan report, Parliament put the Civil
Service Commission onto a statutory footing. Even more
importantly, the core values of the Civil Service - Integrity,
Honesty, Objectivity and Impartiality - and the principle of
appointment on merit, were themselves enshrined in statute '
Sir David continued:
'' In this reporting year, of the appointments
to the Senior Civil Service that have involved external
competitions chaired by a Commissioner, 41% of successful
candidates were women; while for appointments to the most senior
jobs, the figure rises to 46%. I was pleased to see that the
Cabinet Office was able recently to declare that half of the main
domestic Government Departments were now headed by a female
Permanent Secretary. This is a remarkable breakthrough and a
tribute to the work of the Civil Service, supported by the Civil
Service Commissioners, over many years. I know that Janet
Paraskeva, my predecessor as First Civil Service Commissioner,
took particular pleasure in these results, and it is a great
tribute to her that so much progress was made on all fronts during
her five years in office.''
Notes to Editors
1. Media enquiries about the work of the Commission should go to
Maggie O'Boyle on 07880 740 627.
2. Further
information about the work of the Civil Service Commission is
available at www.civilservicecommission.independent.gov.uk
3. The Civil Service Commission is independent of Ministers
and the Civil Service. It is responsible for maintaining the
principle of recruitment to the Civil Service through selection on
merit on the basis of fair and open competition. The Commission
also advises Departments on the promotion of the Civil Service
Code and hears and determines appeals from civil servants under
it.
4. The Civil Service Commission was established as a
statutory body in November 2010 under the provisions of the
Constitutional Reform and Governance Act 2010.
5. Civil
Service Commissioners are appointed by the Crown. There are
currently 12 (part-time) Commissioners, who were recruited
following open competition. Sir David Normington is the senior
Commissioner, known as the First Commissioner. His five year term
as First Civil Service Commissioner began on 1 April 2011. He was
the permanent replacement for Dame Janet Paraskeva whose term of
office finished on 31 December 2010. Sir David Normington was also
appointed Commissioner for Public Appointments on 1 April 2011,
and he is the first person to be appointed as dual post-holder of
these two positions.
Contacts:
NDS Enquiries
Phone: For enquiries please contact the issuing dept
ndsenquiries@coi.gsi.gov.uk
Maggie O'Boyle
Phone: 0207 276 2594
Mobile: 07880 740627
maggieob1@btinternet.com