Welcome to the website of the Civil Service Commissioners

The 16 Civil Service Commissioners are drawn from a wide variety of backgrounds, and between us we have extensive experience of management and leadership in the private, public and voluntary sectors. We are appointed by the Crown and independent of Government. Here you will find out about who we are and what we do. We have a short video  which introduces us and our role.

Our Annual Report for 2008/09 is published on-line. It covers our activities during the year in upholding the fundamental principle that selection for appointment to the Civil Service must be on merit on the basis of fair and open competition. This year has seen the introduction of our Recruitment Principles which are a further significant development of our role as a strategic regulator. We also report on our work in promoting the core values of the Civil Service, as set out in the Civil Service Code.

We have long believed that the constitutional position of the Civil Service and its core values are so important that they need the protection of statute.  We therefore welcomed the Constitutional Reform and Governance Bill introduced into Parliament in July this year.  The Bill passed its second reading in the House of Commons in October and Committee Stage commenced on 3 November.  The House agreed that the Bill should be carried over to the next session and it was included in the legislative programme announced in the Queen's Speech on 18 November.

We would be very pleased to hear any comments you have about our work or this website.