Constitutional Reform and Governance Bill

The Constitutional Reform and Governance Bill was published by the government on 20 July 2009.

The Bill is confirmation of the Prime Minister’s intention, as announced to the House of Commons on 3 July 2007, to enshrine the core values of the Civil Service in statute.  This commitment, and the linked commitment, to make the Commissioners a statutory body - the Civil Service Commission – are set out in the Bill.

In March 2008 the Government published the White Paper ‘The Governance of Britain –Constitutional Renewal’ and at the same time published the text of the Constitutional Renewal Bill. Part Five of the Bill concerned the Civil Service and proposes that there should be a Civil Service Commission comprising the Civil Service Commissioners and their staff. The Bill also placed on a statutory footing the principle that recruitment to the Civil Service must be on merit on the basis of fair and open competition and gives the Civil Service Commission important functions to ensure that recruitment into the Civil Service is in accordance with this principle. The Bill also required the Commission to hear appeals under the Civil Service Code if brought in line with the Commission’s procedures. The Commissioners evidence to the Parliamentary Administration Select Committee on its consideration of the Bill can be read here. The Commissioners also submitted evidence to the Joint Parliamentary Committee that considered the Bill.

The Constitutional Reform and Governance Bill of 2009 differs in certain respects from the previous Constitutional Renewal Bill, but the provisions relating to the Civil Service and the Civil Service Commissioners are essentially the same.

The Commissioners welcome the publication of the Bill. The Commissioners have argued for some time that it is right that the core values of the Civil Service and the principle of recruitment on merit on the basis of fair and open competition should be placed on a statutory footing.

The Commissioners look forward to participating in the process of consideration and comment on the Constitutional Reform and Governance Bill as it receives parliamentary scrutiny.

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