[Note: The NI Executive responded to recommendations 8-18, 24, 26-28, 32b, 34-36 together as a group under the 'Professional Skills, Resourcing, Record Keeping and Raising Concerns' themes.] NI Executive Response (October 2021): These recommendations can be accepted in full. They have been addressed through work to date, including: job-specific appointments within the NICS generalist grades; the piloting of Cabinet Office's 'Commercial Skills Assessment and Development Centre' to evaluate its potential as a mechanism to improve commercial skills across NI Departments; the encouragement of senior leaders to access the Cabinet Office / Oxford University Major Projects Leadership Academy (MPLA); the introduction of a new portfolio of commercial awareness and skills training for all generalist grades; the introduction of a learning and development framework for economists, including commercial awareness; assurances sought from Departments that senior managers will, as a matter of course, review the levels of specific expertise required to deliver their business and take appropriate steps to secure the appropriate expertise and manage the associated risks; the issue of corporate guidance on managing handovers for incorporation within departmental procedures. Further work is required to: reform the role and sponsorship of the Civil Service Commissioners for NI; launch and implement talent management products across the NICS; Deliver NICS Recruitment Plan - phase 1 & 2; Match to job roles and appoint further staff via SO/DP recruitment competition; Agree scope and timeframe for review of NICS recruitment; Develop proposals for the review of NICS workforce model (disciplines, occupational groups, professions, job roles, etc); Develop terms of reference for the review of NICS approach to professions; Further alignment of NICSHR resources and operations to deliver on NICS corporate HR priorities including resourcing activities for critical posts; Ongoing improvement of recruitment and selection processes.