§ Mr. WatersonTo ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he will make a statement on the current role of the public appointments unit. [29810]
§ Mr. FreemanThe public appointments unit's role is as set out in "The Government's Response to the First Report from the Committee on Standards in Public Life", Cm 2931. It advises, through the head of the home civil service, on certain appointments in which the Prime Minister has an involvement; maintains a central list of around 5,000 potential appointees; acts as an initial point of contact for individuals seeking public appointments; and provides Departments with names from the list suitable for specific appointments, and other relevant advice.
459WTo keep Departments informed about this continuing role, the unit is issuing guidance on public appointment procedures which supplements that of the Commissioner for Public Appointments. I am placing copies of this supplementary guidance in the Libraries.