| Permanent Under-Secretary for Defence | |
|---|---|
.svg) Royal Arms as used byHis Majesty's Government | |
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| Ministry of Defence | |
| Style | Permanent Secretary |
| Member of | Defence Council Defence Board Defence Audit and Risk Assurance Committee People Committee Investment Approvals Committee Executive Committee |
| Reports to | Secretary of State for Defence Cabinet Secretary |
| Seat | Ministry of Defence,London |
| Appointer | Prime Minister |
| Inaugural holder | Henry Hardman |
| Formation | 1963 |
| Deputy | Second Permanent Secretary |
| Salary | SCS Pay Band 4 |
Thepermanent under-secretary of state for defence,[1][2] also called thepermanent secretary to the Ministry of Defence,[3][4] is thepermanent secretary at theMinistry of Defence. The office holder is thegovernment's principal civilian adviser on Defence matters.[5] The office holder is a member of theDefence Council and theDefence Board.[6] They are the MOD principal accounting officer,[5] and are called to give evidence to theDefence Select Committee.[7]
The position has existed in its current format since the formation of the modern Ministry of Defence in 1964.[1] It was preceded by the permanent secretary at the earlierMinistry of Defence (1947–1964), and by the permanent secretaries at the government departments that were absorbed into the Ministry of Defence in 1964: thepermanent secretary to the Admiralty, thepermanent under-secretary of state for war, and the permanent secretary to theAir Ministry.
The current permanent secretary to the MOD isDavid Williams.[4]
The permanent secretaries at the earlierMinistry of Defence (1947–1964):[9]
Under the Defence (Transfer of Functions) Act 1964, the Admiralty, War Office and Air Ministry were absorbed into an enlarged Ministry of Defence under a Secretary of State for Defence from 1 April 1964. As a result, the post of Permanent Under Secretary of State (PUS) for Defence was created.
Introduction by Chief of Defence Staff and Permanent Under Secretary of State for Defence
David Williams CB Permanent Secretary for the Ministry of Defence
2.1 As the MOD Permanent Secretary, I am the government's principal civilian adviser on Defence. I have primary responsibility for policy, finance and business planning, and I am the MOD Principal Accounting Officer.
The Defence Committee holds an evidence session on the Ministry of Defence's Annual Report and Accounts... Witnesses: Tuesday 26 April 2022: At 10.35am: David Williams, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Defence
1995 Rejoins MoD as permanent secretary. 1998 Takes over at vast Department of Environment, Transport and the Regions.
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