The appointment was made without competition on the advice of cabinet secretary Sir Jeremy Heywood and the head of the civil service, Sir Bob Kerslake. Changes in the structure of the Cabinet Office mean that Heaton will be supported by two directors general, who will lead the Efficiency & Reform Group and the civil service reform agenda.
Heaton became first parliamentary counsel earlier this year, and will continue in that role alongside his new position. Minister for the Cabinet Office Francis Maude told CSW: “As first parliamentary counsel, he is effectively the manager of part of the Cabinet Office, so I don’t really regard it as being part time. What it’s doing is effectively extending his remit, and I think it will work very well. Obviously, we need to have in addition a director general for civil service reform.”
Maude added: “He was already the Cabinet Office civil service reform champion, so he’s got a very close interest in this. [Reform] will not be done by one person... and this will require not only permanent secretaries and the top 200, but the next 200 and the future engagement of civil servants right across the country.”