Committee publication · Correspondence · 15 June 2026

Letter from Dame Antonia Romeo DCB, Cabinet Secretary and Head of the Civil Service on future Civil Service, dated 9.6.26

From: Public Administration and Constitutional Affairs Committee

Summary

Dame Antonia Romeo, Cabinet Secretary, outlines her priorities for civil service transformation in a letter to the PACA Committee ahead of her 15 June appearance. She details a Future Civil Service programme centred on three pillars: delivery and accountability (aligned to PM objectives), innovation and productivity (particularly AI adoption), and pride and trust (through performance-related pay and Civil Service Code refresh). She signals a forthcoming review into civil service organisation and performance.

Key findings

New performance and accountability framework for Permanent Secretaries explicitly aligns their objectives with the Prime Minister's priorities.
AI designated as 'the defining opportunity of our generation' with a four-pillar programme: tools, talent, transformation, and transition. All departments to introduce ambitious AI and technology plans.
Performance-related pay for Senior Civil Service introduced for 2026/27 to reward delivery and excellence.
Cabinet Secretary to lead a review into civil service organisation, performance and transformation to establish a vision for a 'world class institution'; terms of reference to be published.
Civil Service Code to be refreshed to ensure it is 'up to date, well understood, and adhered to' across the service.

Tone

Supportive

Topics

civil-serviceartificial-intelligencepublic-administrationaccountabilityperformance-management

Key actors

Dame Antonia Romeo, Simon Hoare MP, Prime Minister, Permanent Secretaries, No10 Delivery Unit, National School for Government

Notable line

“Al is the defining opportunity of our generation, as well as the defining challenge.”

Key Quotes

“My priority, and the priority of all civil servants, is to deliver for the Government and for the public.”
— Dame Antonia Romeo · Opening statement of her role's core focus

“Al is the defining opportunity of our generation, as well as the defining challenge.”
— Dame Antonia Romeo · On the strategic importance of artificial intelligence to civil service transformation

“… pride comes from high performance, and from working for an organisation that is genuinely excelling.”
— Dame Antonia Romeo · On building trust and engagement within the civil service

“I have asked all civil servants to demonstrate a positive mindset in how we work and what we can achieve: Make it happen. Make it better. Make it count.”
— Dame Antonia Romeo · Outlining the three core behavioural expectations for civil servants

“I passionately believe that we must maintain and renew the best traditions of the impartial Civil Service.”
— Dame Antonia Romeo · On preserving civil service principles whilst driving reform

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Source · parliament.uk record ↗