Committee publication · Correspondence · 3 November 2025 · HC 385
Letter from the Permanent Under-Secretary relating to Direct Ministerial Appointments, dated 30.10.25
From: Foreign Affairs Committee
Inquiry: Work of the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office
Summary
The Foreign Office's Permanent Under-Secretary outlines procedures for Direct Ministerial Appointments (DMAs) to Head of Mission roles in the Diplomatic Service. DMAs may be made under the Constitutional Reform and Governance Act 2010. The FCDO will conduct open-source due diligence focused on reputational risks, interview candidates, and advise Ministers. Appointees receive fixed-term contracts tied to posting length or end of Parliament (whichever is shorter) and must comply with the Diplomatic Service Code.
Key findings
- DMAs to Head of Mission roles are permissible under Section 10(3) of the CRAG Act 2010, requiring Foreign Secretary recommendation to the King.
- The FCDO will conduct open-source due diligence screening for reputational risks (not national security risks, which remain with vetting processes); issues identified will be put to candidates for response.
- DMA appointees receive fixed-term contracts limited to standard posting length or end of Parliament, whichever is shorter, and must obtain security clearances.
- All appointees must be briefed on Diplomatic Service Code obligations, including requirement for political impartiality.
- The Foreign Affairs Committee retains right to request briefings from FCDO officials and Heads of Mission once appointments are made.
Tone
ProceduralTopics
Key actors
Dame Emily Thornberry, Chris Wormald, Oliver Robbins, Simon Hoare MP, Foreign Secretary, Prime Minister, His Majesty The King
Notable line
“The focus of this exercise will be on exposing any potential future reputational risks, rather than national security risks (which remain the preserve of the national security vetting process).”
Key Quotes
“It is for the Foreign Secretary to recommend HoM appointments to His Majesty The King. Should she, or the Prime Minister, wish to make a DMA, the proposed name will be shared with me.”
“The focus of this exercise will be on exposing any potential future reputational risks, rather than national security risks (which remain the preserve of the national security vetting process).”
“Following this process, assuming Ministers wish to proceed with recommending a DMA to HM The King, the appointee will be treated like a career diplomat.”
“… given a fixed term contract tied to the post to which they are being appointed lasting for either the standard posting length for that job or until the end of the Parliament, whichever is shorter”
“… briefed on their obligations under the Diplomatic Service Code – including the requirement to be politically impartial”
Source · parliament.uk record ↗