It has been the long-standing practice in the Civil Service that when applying for competitions candidates may express a preference for appointment to a particular location as outlined in the regulations governing the competitions. Candidates on the relevant sub-panels for particular locations may be offered positions in accordance with their preference. Should a candidate on such a sub-panel refuse an offer of a post in that location, he or she retains his or her position on the main panel but will not be made a further offer for that sub-panel location. This will remain the practice for the immediate future.
It has been agreed with Civil Service unions that detailed discussions on the arrangements regarding recruitment, promotion and other human resource management issues that will have to put in place in a decentralised civil and public service will begin in the autumn. Changes to existing practices regarding appointments from panels, in particular, will be considered in that context.