Letter from the Cabinet Office (PAP 43(a))
THE PRIME
MINISTER'S
RESPONSIBILITIES IN
RELATION TO
APPOINTMENTS
1. The Prime Minister makes a relatively
small number of appointments to public bodies, and advises The
Queen on others. Such appointments are generally to executive
and advisory non-departmental public bodies and public corporations
and fully within the remit of the Commissioner for Public Appointments
(under the 1995 Order in Council) up to and including the point
at which advice is provided to The Queen. Such appointments include,
for example, the chair of the Police Complaints Authority or trustees
of museums and galleries, and the Prime Minister makes or recommends
such appointments on the advice of departments that handle the
selection process. Information on diversity in public appointments
to these bodies is set out in the annual Public Bodies publication.
2. In addition, the Prime Minister advises
The Queen on a number of other government appointments. Such appointments
are generally made on the advice of departments or relevant bodies
in the sector concerned and selection follows the standard procedure
for selection in that sector. Information on diversity in all
of these appointments is not compiled centrally. The main categories
of such appointments are:
(i) Civil Service Appointments, on advice,
with selection procedures in line with the guidance provided by
the Civil Service Commissioners;
(ii) Judicial appointments and certain appointments
to tribunals, generally made on the recommendation of the Lord
Chancellor;
(iii) Senior Armed Forces appointments, on
the recommendation of the Secretary of State for Defence;
(iv) a small number of other statutory office
holders and commissioners (for example the Commissioner for Public
Appointments), made on the advice of the relevant Government departments.
3. The Prime Minister also makes or advises
The Queen on a number of appointments that are not to government
bodies. They include certain ecclesiastical appointments, scholastic
appointments (for example Regius Professors) and certain Parliamentary
appointments. He also provides advice on certain ceremonial or
honorary appointments, for example, the Lord-Lieutenants, the
Astronomer Royal and Her Honorary Physicians. The Prime Minister
gives his advice after consultation with relevant bodies, following
the standard procedures for the sector concerned and in line with
the principle of selection on merit. Such appointments are made
under the Royal Prerogative.
May 2002
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