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Public Appointments

Asked by Mike WoodConservativeCabinet OfficeTabled Answered 21 November 2025UIN 90739

The question

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, if he will place the desk note on Direct Ministerial Appointments in the House of Commons Library.

Answered by Nick Thomas-Symonds

On 30 October the government published for the first time guidance for departments on the process for ministers making Direct Ministerial Appointments. This replaced earlier internal desk note guidance for departments, which had been rewritten to provide greater clarity for a wider audience, including setting out publicly where Direct Ministerial Appointments sit within the various routes into government.

On 3 November the Cabinet Secretary, during his evidence session before the Foreign Affairs Select Committee, agreed to send - and subsequently sent - a copy of the previous internal departmental desk note to the Committee. A copy of this now superseded desk note guidance will be placed in the House of Commons Library.

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