Civil Service (United Kingdom) programme itself. The position of 'Minister for the Civil Service' is not part of the Civil Service as it is a political position which has always been held by the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom. The highest ranking civil servant in the country is the Cabinet Secretary. A subsidiary title that was also held by the incumbent was "Head of the Home Civil Service" or more recently sometimes styled "Head of the Civil Service", who until recently was also the incumbent Cabinet Secretary and Permanent Secretary of the Cabinet Office. However, following the Coalition Government of David Cameron the
Council of Civil Service Unions v Minister for the Civil Service the determination of national security issues is an executive function and it would be inappropriate for the courts to intervene. The House of Lords held the Royal Prerogative was subject to judicial review, just like statutory instruments. However, on national security grounds, the action of restricting the trade union was justified. Lords Fraser, Scarman and Diplock all believed that the issue of national security was outside the remit of the courts. Lord Diplock wrote "it is par excellence a non-justiciable question. The judicial process is totally inept to deal with the sort of problems which it involves." Lord Fraser stated