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Written question asked by Richard Holden (Conservative) on Friday, 16 May 2025, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Tuesday, 20 May 2025. It was answered by Karin Smyth (Labour) on Monday, 2 June 2025 on behalf of the Department of Health and Social Care.

Department of Health and Social Care: Permanent Secretaries

Question

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, with reference to his Department's press release entitled New DHSC Permanent Secretary Appointed, published on 22 April 2025, whether the new Permanent Secretary was appointed by (a) open and fair competition, (b) temporary appointment and (c) exception.

Original answer

Samantha Jones has been appointed as the new Permanent Secretary for the Department of Health and Social Care following an open and fair competition, overseen by the First Civil Service Commissioner. Samantha Jones will be taking up the role on a fixed term appointment, and this appointment is not an exception.

The answer was corrected by Karin Smyth (Labour)

on Monday, 1 December 2025 on behalf of the Department of Health and Social Care.

Corrected answer

Samantha Jones has been appointed as the new Permanent Secretary for the Department of Health and Social Care following an open and fair competition, overseen by the First Civil Service Commissioner. Samantha Jones will be taking up the role on a fixed term appointment, and this appointment is not an exception.

The Department launched a fair and open competition to appoint a Permanent Secretary in January 2025. As a result of this process, Samantha Jones was found to be an appointable candidate for this role. However, during the recruitment process it was announced that NHS England would be brought back into the Department. This significantly changed the scale and objectives required of this role. In light of these changes the Civil Service Commission agreed a three-year fixed term appointment by exception, on the Senior Civil Service Model contract.

Secondary information

Type
Written question
Reference
52906
Session
2024-26
Related items
Subjects
Recruitment Department of Health and Social Care Permanent secretaries
Link
View this Written question on www.parliament.uk