To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what criteria the (a) Cabinet Office, (b) Government Communications Network and (c) the Central Office of Information uses to determine whether a job is advertised (i) publicly on the Civil Service Recruitment Gateway external site, (ii) the Civil Service Recruitment Gateway internal site and (iii) internally only. (269949)

Civil service recruitment follows the Civil Service Commissioners' Recruitment Principles.

To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what guidance the Civil Service Commissioners have issued on the circumstances in which Civil Service vacancies are advertised to the general public. (269950)

It is for departments to determine the route for filling their vacancies.

Selection for appointment to the Civil Service is required to be on merit on the basis of fair and open competition. The Civil Service Commissioners' Recruitment Principles provide detail on how the Commissioners interpret this requirement, which must be followed by departments.

A copy of the Civil Service Commissioners Report can be found in the House of Commons Library or at:

www.civilservicecommissioners.org.