The Permanent Secretary, in most departments officially titled the Permanent Under-Secretary of State (although the full title is rarely used), is the most senior civil servant of a British Government ministry, charged with running the department on a day-to-day basis. He or she is the non-political civil service head (and "accounting officer") or chief executive of a government department, as distinct from the political Secretary of State, to whom he or she reports and whom she or he advises. The British civil service is the permanent bureaucracy that supports the Government Ministers responsible to the Sovereign and Parliament in administering the United Kingdom. ... The United Kingdom is a unitary state and a democratic constitutional monarchy. ... A ministry is a department of a government, led by a minister. ... In several countries, Secretary of State is a senior government position. ...

The Permanent Secretary is the Accountable Officer of the Department, which means that he or she is answerable to Parliament for ensuring that the Department spends money granted by Parliament appropriately. Permanent Secretaries are thus frequently called for questioning by the Public Accounts Committee and Select Committees of the House of Commons. The permanent secretary usually chairs a department's management board which consists of executive members (other civil servants in the department) and non-executive directors. States currently utilizing parliamentary systems are denoted in red and orange—the former being constitutional monarchies where authority is vested in a parliament, and the latter being parliamentary republics whose parliaments are effectively supreme over a separate head of state. ... A Public Accounts Committee (PAC) is a parliamentary committee responsible for overseeing government expenditures to ensure they are effective and honest. ... A Select Committee is a committee made up of a small number of parliamentary members appointed to deal with particular areas or issues originating in the Westminster System of parliamentary democracy. ... The House of Commons is the lower house of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. ...

Some larger departments also have a Second Permanent Secretary who acts as deputy. In the early 1970s, there was a major reorganisation of Whitehall and many smaller Ministries were amalgamated into larger Departments. Following this reorganisation, virtually all Departments had Second Permanent Secretaries. However, this is no longer the case. The 1970s decade refers to the years from 1970 to 1979, inclusive. ... Whitehall, London, looking south towards the Houses of Parliament. ...

The overall head of the civil service is the Secretary of the Cabinet, currently Sir Gus O'Donnell. The holder of this office is distinct from the Cabinet Office Permanent Secretary, currently Richard Mottram. Sir Augustine Thomas ODonnell, KCB (born 1955) is the highest ranking British civil servant, in the British Civil Service. ... The Cabinet Office is a department of the Government of the United Kingdom responsible for supporting the Prime Minister and Cabinet in progressing matters that require coordination across Government departments. ... Richard Mottram (1946) is a United Kingdom civil servant. ...

Permanent Secretaries are usually created a Knight or Dame Commander of the Order of the Bath at some point after their appointment or on retirement if not already holding the title (although the Permanent Secretary of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office will be created a Knight or Dame Commander of the Order of St. Michael and St. George instead). The most senior Permanent Secretaries, such as the Secretary of the Cabinet, may be created a Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the Bath, and even be given a life peerage after retirement. For salary comparison purposes the Permanent Secretary is deemed broadly equivalent to a General and to a High Court Judge. Military Badge of the Order of the Bath The Most Honourable Order of the Bath is a British order of chivalry founded by George I on 18 May 1725. ... The Foreign and Commonwealth Office, Whitehall, seen from St. ... On the Orders insignia, St Michael is often depicted subduing Satan. ... A Cabinet Secretary is a senior official (almost always a civil servant) who provides services and advice to a Cabinet. ... Military Badge of the Order of the Bath The Most Honourable Order of the Bath is a British order of chivalry founded by George I on 18 May 1725. ... In the United Kingdom, Life Peers are appointed members of the Peerage whose titles may not be inherited (those whose titles are inheritable are known as hereditary peers). ...

Current UK Permanent Secretaries

There are currently 25 individuals in UK government departments with the grade of Permanent Secretary and 15 with the grade of Second Permanent Secretary. However, not all have these titles. In addition, one Executive Agency has a Permanent Secretary, Jobcentre Plus. Her Majestys Government of the United Kingdom contains a number of Ministers and Secretaries of State these members of the Cabinet are supported by civil servants in Ministerial Departments. ... An Executive Agency is a British public institution that carries out some part of the executive functions of the United Kingdom government, Scottish Executive, Welsh Assembly and Northern Ireland Executive. ... Logo of Jobcentre Plus Jobcentre Plus (Welsh: Canolfan Byd Gwaith), sometimes written JobCentre Plus or abbreviated to JCP, is the government-funded employment agency facility and the social security office in the United Kingdom, often operated from a high street shop. ...

The following departments are headed by officials who actually hold the title of Permanent Secretary:

• Cabinet Office (also has a Second Permanent Secretary)
• Her Majesty's Treasury (also has a Second Permanent Secretary)

• Department for Constitutional Affairs (also has a Second Permanent Secretary)
• Department for Culture, Media and Sport
• Ministry of Defence (also has a Second Permanent Secretary)
• Office of the Deputy Prime Minister
• Department for Education and Skills
• Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
• Foreign and Commonwealth Office
• Department of Health
• Home Office (also has a Second Permanent Secretary)
• Department for International Development
• Scottish Executive
• Department of Trade and Industry
• Department for Transport
• National Assembly for Wales
• Department for Work and Pensions
• Jobcentre Plus

The following departments are headed by individuals on the same grade who hold different titles: The Cabinet Office is a United Kingdom government department. ... The new eastern entrance to HM Treasury HM Treasury, in full Her Majestys Treasury, informally The Treasury, is the United Kingdom government department responsible for developing and executing the UK Governments financial and economic policy. ... The Department for Constitutional Affairs (DCA) is a United Kingdom government department. ... DCMS Logo DCMS headquarters in Cockspur Street The Department for Culture, Media and Sport (sometimes abbreviated DCMS) is a department of the British government. ... The Ministry of Defence (MOD) is the United Kingdom government department responsible for implementation of government defence policy and the headquarters of the British Armed Forces. ... The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister is a department of the British government. ... The Department for Education and Skills is a department in the United Kingdom government created in 2001. ... The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) is the United Kingdom government department responsible for environmental protection, food production and standards, agriculture, fisheries and rural communities in England. ... The Foreign and Commonwealth Office, Whitehall, seen from St. ... The Department of Health headquarters in Whitehall The Department of Health is a department of the United Kingdom government. ... The modern concept of Small Office and Home Office or SoHo , or Small or Home Office deals with the category of business which can be from 1 to 10 workers. ... The Department for International Development (DFID) is a United Kingdom government department, the function of which is to promote sustainable development and eliminate world poverty. // Ministers The Department is headed by Cabinet Minister and Secretary of State for International Development Hilary Benn. ... The Executives logo, shown with English and Scottish Gaelic caption The term Scottish Executive is used in two different, but closely-related senses: to denote the executive arm of Scotlands national legislature (i. ... The Department of Trade and Industry is a United Kingdom government department. ... In the United Kingdom, the Department for Transport is the government department responsible for the transport network. ... The National Assembly for Wales (or NAfW) (Welsh: ) is a devolved assembly with power to make legislation in Wales, and is also responsible for most UK government departments in Wales. ... The Department for Work and Pensions is a department of the Government of the United Kingdom, created on June 8, 2001 from the merger of the Employment part of the Department for Education and Employment and the Department of Social Security. ... Logo of Jobcentre Plus Jobcentre Plus (Welsh: Canolfan Byd Gwaith), sometimes written JobCentre Plus or abbreviated to JCP, is the government-funded employment agency facility and the social security office in the United Kingdom, often operated from a high street shop. ...

• Government Communications Headquarters
• Office for National Statistics
• Parliamentary Counsel Office
• HM Revenue and Customs
• Secret Intelligence Service (MI6)
• Security Service (MI5)
• Treasury Solicitor's Department
• UK Trade and Investment

The following departments of the Northern Ireland Executive are also headed by Permanent Secretaries: The Government Communications Headquarters (GCHQ) is a British intelligence agency responsible for providing signals intelligence (SIGINT) and information assurance. ... The Office for National Statistics (ONS) is the government executive agency charged with the collection and publication of statistics related to the economy, population and society of the United Kingdom at national and local levels. ... The Parliamentary Counsel Office is a team of approximately 60 lawyers who draft legislation for the United Kingdom Parliament, principally government bills, but also certain Orders in Council and other secondary legislation. ... Her Majestys Revenue and Customs (HMRC) is a new department of the British Government created by the merger of the Inland Revenue and Her Majestys Customs and Excise which came into formal effect on 18 April 2005. ... The Secret Intelligence Service (SIS), commonly known as MI6, is the United Kingdoms external intelligence agency. ... Current MI5 headquarters in Thames House, London The Security Service, usually called MI5, is the British counter-intelligence and security agency. ... The Treasury Solicitors Department (TSD) is the largest in-house legal organisation of the United Kingdom Government. ... The Northern Ireland Executive as established by the Northern Ireland Act 1998 is the (currently suspended) executive body for Northern Ireland, answerable to the Northern Ireland Assembly. ...

• Department of Agriculture and Rural Development
• Department of Culture, Arts and Leisure
• Department of Education
• Department for Employment and Learning
• Department of Enterprise, Trade and Investment
• Department of the Environment
• Department of Finance and Personnel (also has a Second Permanent Secretary)
• Office of the First Minister and Deputy First Minister
• Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety
• Department for Regional Development
• Department for Social Development

Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (Irish: An Roinn Talmhaíochta agus Forbartha Tuaithe, Ulster Scots: Männystrie o Fairms an Kintra Fordèrin or DARD) is a Government Department in the Northern Ireland Executive. ... Trilingual sign for the DCAL The Department of Culture, Arts and Leisure (Irish: An Roinn Cultúir, Ealaíon agus Fóillíochta, Ulster Scots: Männystrie o Fowkgates, Airts an Aisedom or DCAL) is a Government Department in the Northern Ireland Executive. ... Department for Employment and Learning (DEL) (Irish: An Roinn Fostaíochta agus Foghlaim)is a Government Department in the Northern Ireland Executive, the current direct-rule minister is Maria Eagle MP. The aim of the Department is to . The department was originally the * As Minister for Further and Higher Education... Department of Enterprise, Trade and Investment (DETINI) (Irish: An Roinn Fiontar, Trádála agus Infheistíochtais) the main Government Department in Northern Ireland concerned with economic development. ... The Department of Finance and Personnel (DFP) (Irish: An Roinn Airgeadais agus Pearsanra) is a government department in the Northern Ireland Executive. ... The Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety (DHSSPS) (Irish: An Roinn Sláinte, Seirbhísí Sóisialta agus Sábhailteachta Poiblí) is a government department in the Northern Ireland Executive. ... The Department for Regional Development (DRD) (Irish: An Roinn Forbartha Réigiúnaí) is a government department of the Northern Ireland Executive created in 1999. ... The Department for Social Development (DSD) is a government department of the Northern Ireland Executive created in 1999. ...

Outside the UK

In the Republic of Ireland, the position of Secretary-General of a Department is almost identical to that of a Permanent Secretary in the British Civil Service, with the exception that since the introduction in the mid-1990s, of the Strategic Management Initative, the post is no longer permanent, but carries a seven year time limit. This coincided with the introduction of the change of title from the previous title of Secretary. Irish government departments may also have a Second Secretary, which is equivalent to the Second Permanent Secretary grade in the British Civil Service. See also Civil service of the Republic of Ireland. The civil service (an stát-sheirbhís in Irish) of the Republic of Ireland consists of two broad components, the Civil Service of the Government and the Civil Service of the State. ...

Other Commonwealth or Westminister-style governments may also have officials holding the title of, or equivalent to, Permanent Secretary. In Canada, the position is Deputy Minister. In Canada, a Deputy Minister is the senior civil servant in a government department and assists the Minister of the department who is a member of the Canadian Cabinet. ...

In Australia the position is called the Secretary of the Department, or Director-General of the Department in some states and territories.

In Hong Kong, heads of bureaux (Secretaries) were filled by civil servants had their titles changed to Permanent Secretaries, when political appointees filled the position of secretaries under the second Tung Chee Hua government in 2002. Tung Chee Hwa, GBS, D.S.Sc. ...

Trivia

• When Lord Grey took office as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom in 1830, Sir John Barrow was especially requested to continue serving as Secretary in his department (the Admiralty), starting the principle that senior civil servants stay in office on change of government and serve in a non-partisan manner. Indeed, it was during Barrow's occupancy of the post that it was renamed "Permanent Secretary".

• The most famous (albeit fictional) Permanent Secretary is probably Sir Humphrey Appleby of the BBC TV series Yes Minister.

The Right Honourable Charles Grey, 2nd Earl Grey, KG, PC (13 March 1764–17 July 1845), known as Viscount Howick between 1806 and 1807, was a British Whig statesman and Prime Minister. ... The Prime Minister is in practice the most important political office in the United Kingdom. ... Liberty Leading the People by Eugène Delacroix commemorates the July Revolution 1830 (MDCCCXXX) was a common year starting on Friday (see link for calendar). ... This article is about the English statesman Sir John Barrow. ... Old Admiralty House, Whitehall, London, Thomas Ripley, architect, 1723-26, was not admired by his contemporaries and earned him some scathing couplets from Alexander Pope The Admiralty was historically the authority in the United Kingdom responsible for the command of the Royal Navy. ... Sir Humphrey Appleby, on the left, giving directions to the Minister as usual Sir Humphrey Appleby is one of the three main characters of the 1980s British sitcom Yes, Minister and its sequel Yes, Prime Minister. ... The British Broadcasting Corporation, invariably known as the BBC (and also informally known as the Beeb or Auntie) is the largest broadcasting corporation in the world, employing 26,000 staff in the UK alone and with a budget of £4 billion. ... A television program is the content of television broadcasting. ... Yes, (prime) minister: Sir Humphrey Appleby, James Jim Hacker, Bernard Woolley Yes, Minister and its sequel Yes, Prime Minister are British sitcoms about the struggle between (Dr) James Jim Hacker (played by Paul Eddington), the government minister of the (fictional) Department of Administrative Affairs (and later as Prime Minister) and...

See also

• Cabinet Secretary
• British Civil Service