Public bodies assist Ministers and Departments to make or apply their policies - particularly in areas where the expertise and understanding of those outside government and specialists are needed. DCMS is responsible for some 70 public bodies, which are funded by - but independent of - the Department and are run by boards.
The post of "Commissioner for Public Appointments", which is independent of Government, was created in 1995 in response to a recommendation by the Nolan Committee on Standards in Public Life. The Commissioner's role is to regulate, monitor, report and advise on the way in which Ministers make appointments to the boards of public bodies.
The DCMS Public Appointments Team manages appointments processes, ensuring that the Commissioner's Code of Practice is followed and that the process is conducted in an efficient manner.
Details of how the process works.
The Cabinet Office is home to a central Public Appointments Unit (PAU).
The PAU website provides general information about public appointments, how to get involved, the process and the range of bodies across all Government Departments. It also has information about
public appointment vacancies at local and regional levels across the UK.
