Civil Service Commission (United Kingdom)

The Civil Service Commission regulates recruitment to the United Kingdom Civil Service, providing assurance that appointments are on merit after fair and open competition, and hears appeals under the Civil Service Code. The commission is independent of government and the Civil Service.

The Civil Service Commission was established by Gladstone through an order in council on 21 May 1855^[1] following the publication of the Northcote–Trevelyan Report by Charles Trevelyan and Stafford Northcote that advocated the decoupling of appointments of senior civil servants from ministers to ensure the impartiality of the Civil Service.^[2]

Following a report of the Committee on Standards in Public Life, "Defining the Boundaries within the Executive: Ministers, special advisers and the permanent Civil Service" in 2003, the appointment of the First Civil Service Commissioner is made by Government after consultation with the leaders of the main opposition parties.^[3] They are then appointed by the King under royal prerogative.^[4] The First Civil Service Commissioner is appointed for a fixed term of five years, although another commissioner may act as an interim First Commissioner when necessary.

The Civil Service Code is a set of regulations that govern the conduct of civil servants in the UK.^[5] The regulations are broadly based on the Seven Principles of Public Life.^[6] First introduced in 2006 and later updated in 2015, the code has four main principals that public sector workers must be held accountable to: integrity, honesty, objectivity and impartiality.^[5]

Sir Edward Ryan (1855–75)
John Pakington, 1st Baron Hampton (1875–1880)^[7]
George Byng, Viscount Enfield (later 3rd Earl of Strafford) (1880–88)
...
William Courthope (1892–1907)^[8]^[9]
Lord Francis Hervey (1907-1909)^[10]^[9]
Sir Stanley Leathes (1910–1927)^[11]
Sir Roderick Meiklejohn, KBE CB (1927–1939)^[12]
Sir Percival Waterfield (1939–1951)^[13]
Sir Paul Sinker (1951–1954)^[14]
Laurence Helsby, Baron Helsby (1954–1959)^[15]
Sir George Mallaby (1959–1964)^[16]
Sir George Abell (1964-1967)^[17]
John Hunt (1967–1971)^[18]^[19]
K. H. Clucas (1971–1974)^[19]
Dr Fergus Allen (1974–1981)^[20]
Angus Fraser (1981–1983)^[21]
Dennis Trevelyan (1983–1989)^[22]
John Holroyd (1989–1993)^[23]
Dame Ann Bowtell (1993–1995)^[24]
Sir Michael Bett (1995–2000)^[25]
Usha Prashar, Baroness Prashar (2000–2005)^[26]
Janet Paraskeva (2006–2010)^[4]
Mark Addison (2011) (Interim)^[27]
Sir David Normington (2011–2016)
Kathryn Bishop (2016) (Interim)
Ian Watmore (2016–2021)
Rosie Glazebrook (2021) (Interim)
Gisela Stuart, Baroness Stuart of Edgbaston (2022 -

[1]
"No. 21717". The London Gazette. 22 May 1855. p. 1961.
[2]
Walker, David (2003-07-09). "Fair game". The Guardian. London. Retrieved 2003-07-09.
[3]
"Government publishes response to the ninth report of the committee on standards in public life" (Press release). 10 Downing Street. 2003-09-11. Archived from the original on 2007-06-11. Retrieved 2008-02-02.
[4]
"Law Society chief named new First Civil Service Commissioner". Personnel Today. Reed Business Information. 2005-12-22. Archived from the original on 2011-07-18. Retrieved 2008-02-02.
[5]
"Civil Service Code". Institute for Government. 22 January 2021.
[6]
"7 Rules for (Public) Life: The Nolan Principles in 2024". Civil Service College. 9 February 2024.
[7]
Chilcott, Paul (2004). "Pakington , John Somerset, first Baron Hampton (1799–1880)". Oxford Dictionary of National Biography (online ed.). Oxford University Press. doi:10.1093/ref:odnb/21149. Retrieved 2008-02-03. (Subscription or UK public library membership required.)
[8]
Chapman, Richard A (2004). The Civil Service Commission, 1855–1991: A Bureau Biography. Routledge. p. 107. ISBN 0-7146-5340-3.
[9]
"Civil Service Commission". The Times. August 8, 1907. p. 7.
[10]
"Order-in-Council dated 12 August 1907. Appointment of Lord Francis Hervey as First Commissioner ..." The National Archives. Retrieved 2008-02-03.
[11]
Dampier, W. C. D; Matthew, H. C. G., Rev. (2004). "Leathes, Sir Stanley Mordaunt (1861–1938)". In Matthew, H. C. G (ed.). Oxford Dictionary of National Biography (online ed.). Oxford University Press. doi:10.1093/ref:odnb/34458. Retrieved 2008-07-17.{{cite encyclopedia}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) (Subscription or UK public library membership required.)
[12]
"First Civil Service Commissioner". The Times. November 12, 1927. p. 12.
[13]
Chapman, Richard A (2004). "Waterfield, Sir (Alexander) Percival (1888–1965)". Oxford Dictionary of National Biography (online ed.). Oxford University Press. doi:10.1093/ref:odnb/66876. Retrieved 2008-02-03. (Subscription or UK public library membership required.)
[14]
Lee, J M (2004). "Sinker, Sir (Algernon) Paul (1905–1977)". Oxford Dictionary of National Biography (online ed.). Oxford University Press. doi:10.1093/ref:odnb/64548. Retrieved 2008-02-03. (Subscription or UK public library membership required.)
[15]
Caulcott, Tom (2004). "Helsby, Laurence Norman, Baron Helsby (1908–1978)". Oxford Dictionary of National Biography (online ed.). Oxford University Press. doi:10.1093/ref:odnb/66857. Retrieved 2008-02-03. (Subscription or UK public library membership required.)
[16]
Gittings, Robert (2004). "Mallaby, Sir (Howard) George Charles (1902–1978)". Oxford Dictionary of National Biography (online ed.). Oxford University Press. doi:10.1093/ref:odnb/31402. Retrieved 2008-02-03. (Subscription or UK public library membership required.)
[17]
Ellis, Roger (2004). "Abell, Sir George Edmond Brackenbury (1904–1989)". Oxford Dictionary of National Biography (online ed.). Oxford University Press. doi:10.1093/ref:odnb/39894. Retrieved 2008-02-03. (Subscription or UK public library membership required.)
[18]
"First Civil Service Commissioner". The Times. September 21, 1967. p. 2.
[19]
"Three appointments are made at the Treasury". The Times. February 25, 1971. p. 18.
[20]
"Commissioner named". The Times. January 25, 1974. p. 18.
[21]
"Obituary: Sir Angus Fraser". The Independent. London. July 18, 2001. Retrieved 2008-07-18.^{[dead link‍]}
[22]
"Prison service head to recruit civil servants". The Times. March 5, 1983. p. 3.
[23]
Hughes, Colin (March 24, 1989). "Parliament and Politics: New civil service key player". The Independent. pp. 8:Home News.
[24]
"Woman takes top job – Ann Elizabeth Bowtell". The Times. February 12, 1993. p. 2.
[25]
"Most civil servant – Michael Bett". The Times. March 16, 1995.
[26]
"Baroness Prashar appointed first Civil Service Commissioner". M2 Presswire. 2000-04-19. Retrieved 2008-02-02. ^{[dead link‍]}
[27]
"Letter from Cabinet Office" (PDF). December 21, 2010. Retrieved 2016-04-04.

Chapman, Richard A (2004). The Civil Service Commission, 1855–1991 : From Patronage to Proficiency. London: Frank Cass. ISBN 978-0-7146-5340-2. OCLC 56457389.

Office of the Civil Service Commissioners

[1] [1]
"No. 21717". The London Gazette. 22 May 1855. p. 1961.

[2] [2]
Walker, David (2003-07-09). "Fair game". The Guardian. London. Retrieved 2003-07-09.

[3] [3]
"Government publishes response to the ninth report of the committee on standards in public life" (Press release). 10 Downing Street. 2003-09-11. Archived from the original on 2007-06-11. Retrieved 2008-02-02.

[Janet-4] [4]
"Law Society chief named new First Civil Service Commissioner". Personnel Today. Reed Business Information. 2005-12-22. Archived from the original on 2011-07-18. Retrieved 2008-02-02.

[:0-5] [5]
"Civil Service Code". Institute for Government. 22 January 2021.

[6] [6]
"7 Rules for (Public) Life: The Nolan Principles in 2024". Civil Service College. 9 February 2024.

[7] [7]
Chilcott, Paul (2004). "Pakington , John Somerset, first Baron Hampton (1799–1880)". Oxford Dictionary of National Biography (online ed.). Oxford University Press. doi:10.1093/ref:odnb/21149. Retrieved 2008-02-03. (Subscription or UK public library membership required.)

[8] [8]
Chapman, Richard A (2004). The Civil Service Commission, 1855–1991: A Bureau Biography. Routledge. p. 107. ISBN 0-7146-5340-3.

[Hervey-9] [9]
"Civil Service Commission". The Times. August 8, 1907. p. 7.

[10] [10]
"Order-in-Council dated 12 August 1907. Appointment of Lord Francis Hervey as First Commissioner ..." The National Archives. Retrieved 2008-02-03.

[Leathes-11] [11]
Dampier, W. C. D; Matthew, H. C. G., Rev. (2004). "Leathes, Sir Stanley Mordaunt (1861–1938)". In Matthew, H. C. G (ed.). Oxford Dictionary of National Biography (online ed.). Oxford University Press. doi:10.1093/ref:odnb/34458. Retrieved 2008-07-17.{{cite encyclopedia}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) (Subscription or UK public library membership required.)

[Meiklejohn-12] [12]
"First Civil Service Commissioner". The Times. November 12, 1927. p. 12.

[13] [13]
Chapman, Richard A (2004). "Waterfield, Sir (Alexander) Percival (1888–1965)". Oxford Dictionary of National Biography (online ed.). Oxford University Press. doi:10.1093/ref:odnb/66876. Retrieved 2008-02-03. (Subscription or UK public library membership required.)

[14] [14]
Lee, J M (2004). "Sinker, Sir (Algernon) Paul (1905–1977)". Oxford Dictionary of National Biography (online ed.). Oxford University Press. doi:10.1093/ref:odnb/64548. Retrieved 2008-02-03. (Subscription or UK public library membership required.)

[15] [15]
Caulcott, Tom (2004). "Helsby, Laurence Norman, Baron Helsby (1908–1978)". Oxford Dictionary of National Biography (online ed.). Oxford University Press. doi:10.1093/ref:odnb/66857. Retrieved 2008-02-03. (Subscription or UK public library membership required.)

[16] [16]
Gittings, Robert (2004). "Mallaby, Sir (Howard) George Charles (1902–1978)". Oxford Dictionary of National Biography (online ed.). Oxford University Press. doi:10.1093/ref:odnb/31402. Retrieved 2008-02-03. (Subscription or UK public library membership required.)

[17] [17]
Ellis, Roger (2004). "Abell, Sir George Edmond Brackenbury (1904–1989)". Oxford Dictionary of National Biography (online ed.). Oxford University Press. doi:10.1093/ref:odnb/39894. Retrieved 2008-02-03. (Subscription or UK public library membership required.)

[18] [18]
"First Civil Service Commissioner". The Times. September 21, 1967. p. 2.

[Hunt-19] [19]
"Three appointments are made at the Treasury". The Times. February 25, 1971. p. 18.

[20] [20]
"Commissioner named". The Times. January 25, 1974. p. 18.

[Sir_Angus_Fraser-21] [21]
"Obituary: Sir Angus Fraser". The Independent. London. July 18, 2001. Retrieved 2008-07-18.^{[dead link‍]}

[22] [22]
"Prison service head to recruit civil servants". The Times. March 5, 1983. p. 3.

[23] [23]
Hughes, Colin (March 24, 1989). "Parliament and Politics: New civil service key player". The Independent. pp. 8:Home News.

[Ann_Elizabeth_Bowtell-24] [24]
"Woman takes top job – Ann Elizabeth Bowtell". The Times. February 12, 1993. p. 2.

[Michael_Bett-25] [25]
"Most civil servant – Michael Bett". The Times. March 16, 1995.

[26] [26]
"Baroness Prashar appointed first Civil Service Commissioner". M2 Presswire. 2000-04-19. Retrieved 2008-02-02. ^{[dead link‍]}

[Mark_Addison-27] [27]
"Letter from Cabinet Office" (PDF). December 21, 2010. Retrieved 2016-04-04.

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Civil Service Commission (United Kingdom)

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Civil Service Code

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References

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External links