Minister for the Civil Service

In the Government of the United Kingdom, the Minister for the Civil Service is responsible for regulations regarding Her Majesty's Civil Service,[3] the role of which is to assist the governments of the United Kingdom in formulating and implementing policies. The position is invariably held by the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom.[4]

Minister for the Civil Service
Incumbent
Boris Johnson
since 24 July 2019 (2019-07-24)
Government of the United Kingdom[lower-alpha 1]
StyleThe Right Honourable
Member ofCabinet
Residence10 Downing Street
SeatWestminster
AppointerMonarch
Term lengthAt Her Majesty's pleasure
Inaugural holderHarold Wilson
Formation1 November 1968
Deputy
Mark Sedwill
Cabinet Secretary and Head of the Civil Service
WebsiteOfficial website
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The ministership was created for Harold Wilson on 1 November 1968 when responsibilities for the pay and management of the Civil Service was transferred from HM Treasury to a new Civil Service Department.[5] In recognition of the primary authority of the Prime Minister over the Civil Service, it is a constitutional convention that the Ministry would always be held by the Prime Minister.[6] The list of Ministers for the Civil Service is therefore identical to the list of Prime Ministers of the United Kingdom from 1968 onwards.

By the terms of the Civil Service (Management Functions) Act 1992, the Minister may delegate his or her power to ministers and others such as the Scottish Government.[7] Prime Minister Gordon Brown appointed Tom Watson to be responsible for the Civil Service as "Minister for Digital Engagement and Civil Service Issues",[8] while Prime Minister Boris Johnson has given Michael Gove, the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster and Minister for the Cabinet Office, responsibility for the Civil Service.[9][10]

Mark Sedwill has been the Cabinet Secretary and Head of the Home Civil Service since 2018.[11]

Junior Ministers in the Civil Service Department
Portrait Name
(Birth–Death)		 Term of office Other ministerial portfolios held during tenure Party Ministry
The Right Honourable
Edward Shackleton
Baron Shackleton
OBE PC
(1911–1994)		 1 December
1968		 19 June
1970		 Labour Wilson
Parliamentary Secretary
David Howell
MP for Guildford
(b. 1936)		 20 June
1968		 26 March
1972		 Conservative Heath
Parliamentary Secretary
Kenneth Baker
MP for St Marylebone
(b. 1934)		 20 June
1972		 4 March
1974
    Parliamentary Secretary
    Geoffrey Johnson-Smith
    MP for East Grinstead
    (1924–2010)    		 20 June
    1972
      Minister of State
      Robert Sheldon
      MP for Ashton-under-Lyne
      (1923–2020)      		 7 April
      1974      		 18 October
      1974
        		Labour Wilson
        Parliamentary Secretary
        John Grant
        MP for Islington Central
        (1932–2000)
          Minister of State
          Charles Morris
          MP for Manchester Openshaw
          (1986–2012)          		 18 October
          1974          		 4 May
          1979
            		Wilson & Callaghan

            Notes
            1. Margaret Thatcher announced the abolition of the Civil Service Department to the House of Commons on 12 November 1981.[1][2]

            References
            1. "HC Stmnt: [Civil Service Department (Transfer of Responsibilities)]". Margaret Thatcher Foundation. 12 November 1981. Retrieved 2 September 2017.
            2. "Part 3: Changes in the Public Service since 1967 (Continued)". Parliament of the United Kingdom. 1998. Retrieved 2 September 2017.
            3. "Civil Service Order in Council 1995" (PDF). UK Civil Service Commissioners. Archived from the original (PDF) on 20 July 2014.
            4. "Her Majesty's Government". Government of the United Kingdom. 9 June 2009. Archived from the original on 16 February 2010.
            5. Daintith & Page 1999.
            6. David Wood (17 October 1968). "Ministers in merger dilemma". The Times (57384). London. p. 1.
            7. Pilkington 1999, p. 153.
            8. Sparrow, Andrew (2 June 2009). "Profile: Tom Watson". The Guardian. Retrieved 2 September 2017.
            9. Gove, Michael (2 March 2020). "Ministerial Code". Hansard. Retrieved 3 March 2020. As the Minister responsible for the civil service, I am pleased to be here in order to be able to uphold the ministerial code
            10. Yorke, Harry; Hymas, Charles (2 March 2020). "Priti Patel allegations will be investigated by Cabinet Office, Government says". The Telegraph. Retrieved 2 March 2020. Michael Gove, the Cabinet minister responsible for the civil service
            11. "Statement on Sir Jeremy Heywood". Gov.uk. Government of the United Kingdom. Retrieved 27 October 2018.

            Sources
            • Daintith, Terence; Page, Alan C. (26 August 1999). "Introduction" (PDF). The Executive in the Constitution: Structure, Autonomy, and Internal Control. Oxford University Press. ISBN 978-0-19-826870-3.CS1 maint: ref=harv (link)
            • Pilkington, Colin (1999). The Civil Service in Britain Today. Manchester University Press. ISBN 978-0-7190-5224-8.CS1 maint: ref=harv (link)
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