Guidance

Role of government non-executives and departmental boards

The role of departmental boards and non-executive board members in government departments: how they work and what they contribute.

Documents

Departmental Boards

Details

Each central government department has a departmental board. This is chaired by the Secretary of State. Members include:

  • junior ministers
  • the permanent secretary and other civil service executives
  • non-executive board members

Non-executives provide advice and bring an external perspective to the business of government departments. They do not have ‘executive’ decision-making powers.

Read a list of non-executives in central government departments.

Published 5 June 2013
Last updated 18 November 2014 + show all updates
  1. Added information about departmental boards.

  2. First published.