Cabinet Office: Senior Civil Servants
2026-06-07 · Cabinet Office · 7435 · Official question
Question
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, whether a Cabinet Secretary can be appointed using a reserve list, without fresh and open competition, but disregarding the merit order of the previous appointment process.
Answer
The Cabinet Manual sets out that the Cabinet Secretary is appointed directly by the Prime Minister. The Prime Minister receives advice from the First Civil Service Commissioner, but is the final decision maker.