Public Appointments: Retirement
The question
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office with reference to the Answer of 10 April 2026 to Question 123213 on Peers: Recruitment, whether a mandatory retirement age will be applied to direct ministerial appointments.
Answered by Nick Thomas-Symonds
Direct ministerial appointees are public office holders and are therefore not employees. Their terms of engagement make clear that there is no construed contract of employment between an appointee and their appointing body. As such, typical conditions and entitlements under employment law, such as those around formal retirement, do not apply to public office holders.
Direct ministerial appointments are also generally short-term and non-recurring in nature. When making such appointments, ministers will take into account the suitability of prospective appointees to meet the criteria for the role and their ability to fulfil the role’s duties. Direct ministerial appointments are made entirely at the discretion of ministers, who may terminate such appointments at any time with or without notice.
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