Correspondence from Lord True, Cabinet Office
Updated 30 May 2022
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Dear Lord Pickles
Thank you for your letter of 5 April to the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, relating to Mark Fisher’s appointment as Chief Executive of the Greater Manchester Integrated Care Service. I have been asked to reply as the Minister with policy responsibility for the Business Appointment Rules.
From the correspondence you enclosed in your letter, I understand that Mr Fisher was incorrectly advised by a recruitment consultant that an application under the Business Appointment Rules would not be required for this role, and he has since apologised for this mistake. However, applicants under the Business Appointment Rules have a personal responsibility to manage their compliance with the Civil Service Management Code, and the failure of Mr Fisher to verify his obligations under the Rules before announcing his appointment constitutes a breach of the Rules.
Due to the Committee’s assessment that public sector appointments of this nature are generally lower risk, I agree with the Committee’s assessment that further action would be disproportionate in this case. The publication of your correspondence has, in itself, ensured public transparency on this issue and clarity in relation to any future declarations.
I share the Committee’s commitment to improving the awareness of the Rules amongst Crown servants, and my officials are undertaking work to support departments in this endeavour. I also note the Committee’s assessment of public sector roles as often presenting lower risk under the Rules, and we will take this into account as we progress our wider reform work.
I would like to thank the Committee for your ongoing work on these matters.
Yours sincerely,
Lord True CBE