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Written question asked by Mike Wood (Conservative) on Friday, 10 April 2026, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Tuesday, 14 April 2026. It was answered by Satvir Kaur (Labour) on Monday, 27 April 2026 on behalf of the Cabinet Office.


Civil Servants: Dismissal

Question

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, pursuant to the Answer of 24 March 2026 to Question 121095 on Civil Servants: Dismissal, what is the policy of the Cabinet Office on whether a civil servant (a) can or (b) should be dismissed for dishonesty on their job application or associated job interview and vetting processes.

Answer

All Civil Servants are expected to carry out their role with dedication and a commitment to the Civil Service Code and its core values: integrity, honesty, objectivity and impartiality.

Applicants for Cabinet Office roles are required to sign a declaration stating that the information they provide during the recruitment process is true and relates to their own experiences. If it is discovered that an applicant or Cabinet Office employee has given false information or withheld relevant details during the recruitment or vetting process, their application may be rejected and/or considered in line with departmental discipline policy. This may result in dismissal and implications for the employee’s security clearance. Internal policies and processes in response to dishonesty will only apply to Cabinet Office staff, with Ministers and other departments out of scope.

The Cabinet Office adheres to the relevant national security vetting policies. A range of considerations related to vetting and honesty may be relevant to a vetting decision. Any indication from employee or contractor records of unreliability in a security context (e.g., disciplinary action related to abuse of trust, carelessness, dishonesty, lack of discretion, or disregard for security controls) may result in an adverse security decision regarding an individual's vetting.


Secondary information

Type
Written question
Reference
124843
Session
2024-26
Related items
Civil Servants: Dismissal
Tuesday, 24 March 2026
Written questions
House of Commons
Lord Mandelson
Thursday, 28 May 2026
Written questions
House of Commons
Subjects
Codes of practice Civil servants Dismissal Government People Group
Link
View this Written question on www.parliament.uk