Committee publication · Correspondence · 13 July 2026

Letter from Dame Antonia Romeo DCB, Cabinet Secretary and Head of the Civil Service on the review into the organisation, performance and transformation of the Permanent Civil Service, dated 1.7.26

From: Public Administration and Constitutional Affairs Committee

Summary

Dame Antonia Romeo, Cabinet Secretary, informs the Public Administration and Constitutional Affairs Committee that the Government has published Terms of Reference for a review into the organisation, performance and transformation of the Permanent Civil Service. The review aims to strengthen delivery, accountability, innovation and productivity while safeguarding impartiality and core values. Romeo invites parliamentary input and expects to conclude the review by summer 2027.

Key findings

Government has published formal Terms of Reference for a Civil Service review following the King's Speech commitment to strengthen delivery and accountability
Review will draw on expert advisers from academia, private, public, civil society and international spheres
Parliament, including the PACAC, will be actively invited to provide views during the review process
Review aims to set out a vision for the Civil Service as a 'world class institution, serving the elected government of the day'
Expected completion date is summer 2027 with public release of final report

Tone

Procedural

Topics

civil-servicepublic-administrationgovernment-reformaccountabilityinstitutional-governance

Key actors

Dame Antonia Romeo, Prime Minister, Simon Hoare MP, Public Administration and Constitutional Affairs Committee, Cabinet Office

Notable line

“… the Review aims to set out a vision for its future as a world class institution, serving the elected government of the day.”

Key Quotes

“The Government has today published the Terms of Reference for a Review into the Organisation, Performance and Transformation of the Permanent Civil Service.”
— Dame Antonia Romeo · announcing formal launch of the review

“Recognising the essential role of Parliament in this work. the Review will actively welcome views from across both Houses, including the Public Administration and Constitutional Affairs Committee.”
— Dame Antonia Romeo · inviting parliamentary engagement

“I intend to conclude the review before summer 2027, making the report available to the public.”
— Dame Antonia Romeo · setting timeline for completion and publication

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Source · parliament.uk record ↗