VerbatimParliament, as it happens

Department of Health and Social Care: Career Development

Asked by Neil O'BrienConservativeDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled Answered 22 December 2025UIN 98533

The question

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many and what proportion of departmental staff were promoted (a) in-grade and (b) to a higher grade in the last year broken down by (i) performance marking in the previous year and (ii) grade.

Answered by Karin Smyth

As of 28 November 2025, the Department had 112 employees, or 3%, on a temporary promotion to a higher grade from their substantive grade. The following table shows the percentage of employees on temporary promotion, broken down by grade:

Grade

Percentage on temporary promotion

Higher Executive Officer

4%

Senior Executive Officer

3%

Grade 7

2%

Grade 6

6%

Senior Civil Service 1

5%

Overall

3%

We have only recently started to capture performance markings on the system and so cannot provide a breakdown for last year. Due to the way our data is held, we are not able to provide a breakdown of the number or proportion of staff who were promoted to a higher grade whilst on temporary promotion.

Verbatim has judged this answer against the question that was actually asked — answered, partly answered, or evaded. Sign in to see the verdict →

Open this question in Verbatim →

Every written question, searchable

155,000 questions tabled since the election, with the answer each department gave — and the ones still unanswered, with the clock running. Free to search.

Search written questions →Read on Verbatim