Public Sector Manpower
The Supreme Court
394.The Supreme Court will be administered as a distinct constitutional entity with special funding arrangements to reflect its unique status. The staff will, however, be civil servants. The existing staff of the Judicial Office of the House of Lords have been given the opportunity to transfer to the new court and they will be supplemented by recruited staff to fill the role of those employed by the wider House and shared with the Judicial Office. At present, 21 staff are dedicated to the Judicial Office at a cost of £0.6 million. It is estimated that a further 20 posts will need to be created to fill the role of those shared with the wider House, at a cost of £0.5 million. In addition, a Chief Executive will be appointed through fair and open competition.
The Judicial Appointments Commission
395.The effects on public service manpower will be minimal for the Judicial Appointments Commission. The Commission will be an executive Non-Departmental Public Body sponsored by the Department for Constitutional Affairs. The Commission will be staffed by a combination of new recruits, and transferred or seconded staff from the Department of Constitutional Affairs. It is estimated that the Judicial Appointments Commission will have approximately 140 staff.
The Judicial Appointments and Conduct Ombudsman
396.The Ombudsman’s office will have a minimal effect on public service manpower and will be staffed by existing civil servants from the Department of Constitutional Affairs. The estimated workload of the Ombudsman’s office is still under evaluation but it is thought that there will be a need for between 6 and 14 staff.