Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) Diplomatic Service Selection Civil Service Ethics, Governance and Professional Conduct Syllabus

Civil Service Ethics, Governance and Professional Conduct syllabus — full chapter and topic list

Expand any chapter to see its topics and sub-topics. This is the whole examinable outline for Civil Service Ethics, Governance and Professional Conduct in Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) Diplomatic Service Selection, not a summary of it.

1. 1

   Civil Service Values and Code

   3 topics

   • The four core values
     • Integrity, Honesty, Objectivity, Impartiality
     • Political impartiality and serving ministers
   • The Civil Service Code in practice
     • Raising and resolving concerns
     • Whistleblowing routes
   • The constitutional context
     • Relationship between ministers and officials
     • Accountability to Parliament
2. 2

   Standards, Conduct and Accountability

   3 topics

   • Conflicts of interest
     • Declaring and managing interests
     • Gifts, hospitality and the appearance of bias
   • Public accountability mechanisms
     • Select committees and the NAO
     • Freedom of Information
   • Stewardship of public money
     • Managing Public Money principles
     • Value for money and accounting officers
3. 3

   Information Security and Data Handling

   3 topics

   • Government security classifications
     • Official, Secret and Top Secret
     • Need-to-know and handling rules
   • Data protection and records
     • UK GDPR and personal data
     • Record-keeping obligations
   • Counter-espionage awareness
     • Insider threat and physical security
     • Secure communications overseas
4. 4

   Inclusion, Wellbeing and Professional Development

   3 topics

   • Equality, diversity and inclusion
     • Equality Act duties
     • Inclusive leadership behaviours
   • Wellbeing and resilience
     • Managing pressure and mobility strain
     • Support networks and welfare
   • Learning and career progression
     • Continuous professional development
     • Language and skills accreditation

Civil Service Ethics, Governance and Professional Conduct flashcards for Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) Diplomatic Service Selection

25 of 50 cards from the Civil Service Ethics, Governance and Professional Conduct deck — real questions with worked answers.

1. What are the four core values of the UK Civil Service as set out in the Civil Service Code?

   Integrity, Honesty, Objectivity and Impartiality.

2. In the Civil Service Code, how is 'integrity' defined?

   Putting the obligations of public service above your own personal interests.

3. In the Civil Service Code, how is 'honesty' defined?

   Being truthful and open.

4. In the Civil Service Code, how is 'objectivity' defined?

   Basing your advice and decisions on rigorous analysis of the evidence.

5. In the Civil Service Code, how is 'impartiality' defined?

   Acting solely according to the merits of the case and serving equally well governments of different political persuasions.

6. What is meant by 'political impartiality' as a sub-element of impartiality in the Civil Service Code?

   Serving the government, whatever its political persuasion, to the best of your ability in a way that maintains political impartiality and the confidence of future governments, regardless of your own political beliefs.

7. What are the seven Nolan Principles of Public Life?

   Selflessness, Integrity, Objectivity, Accountability, Openness, Honesty and Leadership.

8. Which body originally set out the Seven Principles of Public Life, and in what year?

   The Committee on Standards in Public Life, established by John Major, first published them in 1995 (the Nolan Report).

9. Under the Civil Service Code, what must you NOT do that would conflict with the value of honesty?

   You must not deceive or knowingly mislead ministers, Parliament or others; nor be influenced by improper pressures or the prospect of personal gain.

10. If a civil servant believes they are being asked to act in a way that conflicts with the Civil Service Code, what is the prescribed escalation route?

    Raise it with your line manager or someone in your line management chain; if unresolved, report it to the relevant department procedures, and ultimately you may take the matter to the Civil Service Commission.

11. What is the statutory basis of the Civil Service Code?

    The Constitutional Reform and Governance Act 2010 (CRaG), which placed the management of the Civil Service and the Code on a statutory footing.

12. What independent body has the power to hear and investigate complaints raised under the Civil Service Code?

    The Civil Service Commission.

13. Under the UK constitution, civil servants serve which entity, and through whom?

    They serve the Crown, in practice the duly elected government of the day, principally through ministers who are accountable to Parliament.

14. What is the Carltona principle in UK public administration?

    The principle (from Carltona Ltd v Commissioners of Works, 1943) that the powers of a minister may lawfully be exercised by officials within their department acting in the minister's name, without express delegation.

15. What does the Haldane (or Haldane convention) principle establish about a government department?

    That a department is a single legal entity headed by the minister; civil servants act as agents of the minister, and ministerial responsibility covers the actions of officials.

16. What is the convention of individual ministerial responsibility?

    Ministers are individually accountable to Parliament for the conduct and decisions of their department, including the actions of civil servants under them.

17. What is the doctrine of collective ministerial responsibility?

    Once Cabinet reaches a decision, all ministers must publicly support it or resign; Cabinet discussions remain confidential.

18. What is a conflict of interest in the Civil Service context?

    A situation in which a civil servant's personal interests (financial, family, or other) could improperly influence, or appear to influence, the impartial and objective performance of their official duties.

19. Distinguish between an 'actual', a 'potential', and a 'perceived' conflict of interest.

    Actual: a real conflict exists now. Potential: a conflict could arise in future given the circumstances. Perceived: a reasonable third party might think a conflict exists, even if it does not actually influence decisions.

20. What is the standard first step a civil servant must take when a conflict of interest arises?

    Declare it promptly to their line manager (and record it on the relevant register), then agree how it will be managed or mitigated, e.g. by recusal.

21. What rules govern the acceptance of gifts and hospitality by civil servants?

    Gifts and hospitality must be declared and recorded; they should generally be refused where they could be seen to compromise impartiality, and departments maintain a gifts/hospitality register with value thresholds for declaration.

22. What are the 'business appointment rules' (BAR) and whom do they cover?

    Rules requiring civil servants (and ministers) to seek approval before taking up outside appointments or employment after leaving the Civil Service, to prevent improper use of contacts or information; the most senior cases are overseen by the Advisory Committee on Business Appointments (ACOBA).

23. What is the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) and what is its remit?

    A House of Commons select committee that scrutinises the value for money, economy, efficiency and effectiveness of public spending, holding accounting officers to account; it does not examine the policy itself, only its implementation and use of money.

24. What is the role of the National Audit Office (NAO) and who heads it?

    The NAO independently audits central government accounts and conducts value-for-money studies, reporting to Parliament; it is headed by the Comptroller and Auditor General (C&AG).

25. Who is the 'Accounting Officer' in a government department and what is their core personal responsibility?

    Usually the Permanent Secretary, personally responsible and accountable to Parliament for the regularity, propriety, value for money and feasibility of the department's use of public funds.

See more Civil Service Ethics, Governance and Professional Conduct flashcards →

Planning Civil Service Ethics, Governance and Professional Conduct for Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) Diplomatic Service Selection

Civil Service Ethics, Governance and Professional Conduct (Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) Diplomatic Service Selection) FAQ