WIREDGOV

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