First Civil Service Commissioner
The First Civil Service Commissioner heads the Civil Service Commission, a statutory body which ensures that appointments to the Civil Service in the United Kingdom are made openly and on merit, and hears appeals from civil servants under the Civil Service Code.
| First Civil Service Commissioner | |
|---|---|
Civil Service Commission logo | |
| Civil Service Commission | |
| Seat | Westminster, London |
| Appointer | The King on the advice of the prime minister |
| Term length | Five years |
| Inaugural holder | Sir Edward Ryan |
| Formation | 1885 |
The post was created in 1855 following publication of the Northcote–Trevelyan Report by Charles Trevelyan and Stafford Northcote that advocated the decoupling of appointments of senior civil servants from ministers to insure the impartiality of the Civil Service. Following a report of the Committee on Standards in Public Life, "Defining the Boundaries within the Executive: Ministers, special advisers and the permanent Civil Service" in 2003, the appointment of the First Civil Service Commissioner is made by Government after consultation with the leaders of the main opposition parties. They are then appointed by the King under Royal Prerogative.