The decision to split the roles of cabinet secretary and head of the civil service (HCS) from January next year will not undermine programmes of civil service reform, Cabinet Office minister Francis Maude has told MPs.

Maude was giving evidence to the Public Administration Select Committee on Monday, as part of its inquiry into the decision to split the roles after Sir Gus O’Donnell’s retirement at the end of the year.

PASC chair Bernard Jenkin suggested that the committee’s two main concerns are that the role of HCS is being downgraded, and that by splitting O’Donnell’s job in two the prime minister “may be diluting his influence across Whitehall”.

Maude answered that the PM’s ability to influence reforms in the civil service will be “as strong as it’s ever been – stronger, actually, because there will be someone whose primary focus at the centre of government is driving reform and delivery”.

Jenkin had earlier indicated that the committee is being won over by Cabinet Office explanations of the new role. Speaking at a conference organised by CSW, he said that the committee has been calling for the centre of government to take a stronger role in co-ordinating cross-civil service reform. In response to a question from CSW, Jenkin said that “the real question, to my mind, is the status of the HCS. If the HCS is being downgraded [this reorganisation] will not work.” But, he continued, Sir Gus O’Donnell had given evidence to the committee and submitted an organisational chart showing that the HCS will enjoy “parity” with the cabinet secretary, “giving him the departmental clout to create something of an organisational HQ at the heart of government”.

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Written by Suzannah Brecknell, CSW