Appointment process for senior Civil Servants: FOI release
- Published
- 8 March 2021
- Directorate
- People Directorate
- Part of
- Equality and rights, Public sector, Work and skills
- FOI reference
- FOI/202100143537
- Date received
- 23 January 2021
- Date responded
- 4 February 2021
Information request and response under the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002
Information requested
You asked:
"Is it possible to find out the procedure to select the top civil servant in Scotland!
Is he/she chosen by Westminster or is it under the complete gift of the Scottish Government?"
Response
All civil service appointments are governed by the Civil Service Commission (Civil Service Commission (independent.gov.uk) whose remit is to ensure that selections for appointment to the UK civil service are made on merit on the basis of fair and open competition. In the case of the appointment of the Scottish Government Permanent Secretary, the process is run by the Cabinet Office, with close co-operation from the Scottish Government People Director. The First Minister is consulted throughout the process and makes the final selection decision from the appointable candidates.
About FOI
The Scottish Government is committed to publishing all information released in response to Freedom of Information requests. View all FOI responses at http://www.gov.scot/foi-responses.
Contact
Please quote the FOI reference
Central Enquiry Unit
Email: ceu@gov.scot
Phone: 0300 244 4000
The Scottish Government
St Andrews House
Regent Road
Edinburgh
EH1 3DG
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