Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, further to the First Civil Service Commissioner's letter to Heads of Department of 22 July 2026, whether special advisers may (a) review Civil Service recruitment papers, (b) advise Ministers on the suitability of candidates, (c) discuss candidates with Ministers, (d) comment on job descriptions and person specifications and (e) attend recruitment meetings as observers.

As set out in paragraph 58 of the Civil Service Recruitment Principles, published by the Civil Service Commission: "Under the 2010 Act, Special Advisers may not exercise any power in relation to the management of any part of the Civil Service. They may therefore not be involved in the recruitment of civil servants".