HC Deb 14 January 1997 vol 288 cc187-8W
Dr. Goodson-Wickes

To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what delegations were made in 1996 under the Civil Service (Management Functions) Act 1992; to whom those delegations were made; and what were the main conditions attached to them. [11011]

Mr. Freeman

Since the last report to Parliament,Official Report, 11 January 1996, columns 285–86, Ministers and statutory office holders in charge of Departments1 have been given delegated authority—from 1 April 1996—under the Civil Service (Management Functions) Act 1992 to:

  1. (a) prescribe the qualifications (so far as they relate to age, knowledge, ability, professional attainment, aptitude and potential) for the appointment of home civil servants (with the exception of the Fast Stream Development Programme) in their respective departments; and
  2. (b) determine in respect of home civil servants in their respective departments the number and grading of posts outside the Senior Civil Service and the terms and conditions of employment in so far as they relate to the following:
  1. i. classification of staff, with the exception of the Senior Civil Service;
  2. ii. remuneration and allowances, with the exception of the Senior Civil Service;
  3. iii. allowances for the Senior Civil Service in respect of service overseas;
  4. iv. expenses;
  5. v. holidays, hours of work and attendance;
  6. vi. part-time and other working arrangements;
  7. vii. performance and promotion;
  8. viii. retirement age and redundancy;
  9. ix. re-deployment of staff within and between departments.

In some cases, for staff appointed by statutory office holders, the Minister for the Civil Service was statutorily required to give consent to terms and conditions of service. For such staff, delegation has been effected by waiving that requirement, subject to the conditions attached to delegation.

The delegation was subject to the condition that recipients comply with the provisions of the civil service management code as amended from time to time. Copies of the civil service management code are available in the Libraries of both Houses. All previous delegations and authorisations made under the Civil Service (Management Functions) Act 1992 were revoked with effect from 1 April 1996.

Similar authorisations were also made to the Health and Safety Executive and the Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service (other than in respect of qualifications

for the appointment of staff where they already had such powers). These came into effect on 1 June and 11 June 1996 respectively and were also subject to the condition that they comply with the provisions of the civil service management code as amended from time to time. These authorisations replaced all previous authorisations made to HSE and ACAS under the Civil Service (Management Functions) Act 1992, which were revoked with effect from 1 June and 11 June respectively.

1 The statutory office holders are:

  • Commissioners of Inland Revenue
  • Head of the Registry of Friendly Societies, being the Chief Registrar of Friendly Societies and the First Commissioner of the Building Societies Commission
  • Chief Charity Commissioner
  • Commissioners of Customs and Excise
  • Crown Estate Commissioners
  • Director General of Electricity Supply
  • Director General of Fair Trading
  • Director General of Gas Supply
  • Director General of National Lottery
  • Director of National Savings
  • Director of Passenger Rail Franchising
  • Director General of Telecommunications
  • Director General of Water Services
  • Director General of Public Prosecutions
  • Director of The Serious Fraud Office Government Actuary
  • Her Majesty's Chief Inspector of Schools in England
  • Her Majesty's Chief Inspector of Schools in Wales
  • International Rail Regulator
  • Public Works Loan Commissioners
  • Parliamentary Commissioner for Administration and Health Service Commissioners
  • Rail Regulator
  • Registrar General for Scotland.