Advising on exits – a new role for the Civil Service Commission
Baroness Gisela Stuart, First Civil Service Commissioner
On 13 October 2025 the Civil Service Commission will formally assume responsibility for advising on applications from senior civil servants and special advisers under the government’s Business Appointment rules. This is an important development for the Commission, giving us responsibility for advising on exit, as well as being the independent regulator of entry into the Civil Service.
The Business Appointments Rules belong to the government. They exist to protect the integrity of government when someone moves on to a new role outside government, particularly where there is a risk or perception of a conflict of interest. The Rules apply to civil servants at all levels with the vast majority of applications handled by departments themselves.
From mid-October, when the Advisory Committee on Business Appointments (ACOBA) closes, the Civil Service Commission, as an independent statutory body, will be responsible for advising the most senior civil servants (Director General and above including equivalent senior diplomats and special advisers) who apply under these Rules.
Applications from former Ministers will go to the Adviser on Ministerial Standards, Sir Laurie Magnus.
The Commission is fortunate to have an experienced group of independent Commissioners from a wide range of professional backgrounds – from law and business to academia and the voluntary sector. A panel of three of our Commissioners and myself, as the First Civil Service Commissioner, will oversee the risk-based process. Our aim is to make the process as efficient as possible, making greater use of new technology where we can.
Our role is to provide judgement and scrutiny on applications under the Rules, ensuring that people can move smoothly between public service and other sectors in a way that is appropriate and transparent. And from 13 October 2025, the advice we have given to departing senior civil servants will start to be published on our website when an appointment is taken up or publicly announced. I will also be talking more about our approach at the Institute for Government in November and in evidence to PACAC over the autumn.
We will also begin designing the new system for the regular audits of departments’ handling of Business Appointment Rules applications at lower levels, scrutinising the way cases are handled at lower grades and sharing best practice. From 2026, these audits will take place alongside our audits of recruitment practice in departments.
Over the summer, we have been working closely with the Advisory Committee on Business Appointments (ACOBA), which previously advised on these cases as well as applications from former Ministers..The staff and members of ACOBA have shared their expertise and insights, and I want to thank them for helping us to ensure that the handover is as smooth and seamless as possible.
Looking ahead, the Commission has also been asked to make recommendations to government on how the Business Appointment Rules themselves might be strengthened. We want to help ensure that the framework is effective and proportionate and will be consulting stakeholders in the New Year as part of this work. Ultimately, the Rules are owned by government, but we will make suggestions on how they can be improved, based on our experience. We will also be providing quarterly updates to Ministers on our progress which will be published on our website too.
The Civil Service Commission is well placed to take on this new responsibility. The civil service is one of the UK’s greatest assets. Its ability to attract talented people, retain their skills, and then allow them to move in and out without damaging trust in government is vital.
Further information:
Read: First Civil Service Commissioner to Minister for the Cabinet Office (Friday 11 July 2025)
Read: Minister for the Cabinet Office to First Civil Service Commissioner (Wednesday 9 July 2025)
Read: Written statement from Pat McFadden, Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster (Monday 21 July 2025)
Read: Ethics and Integrity Commission to drive up standards across the public sector (Monday 21 July 2025)
