Treasury chief Sir Andrew Turnbull has been chosen as the new cabinet secretary.

Sir Andrew, who is said to have impressed Tony Blair with his commitment to public service reform, takes over the top civil service role from Sir Richard Wilson in September.

Forum Response: FDA

Jonathan Baume, general secretary of the FDA, told ePolitix.com: "Sir Andrew is a highly capable and well respected civil servant who will be able to take forward civil service reform on the basis of more than thirty year's experience in the civil service. Most of his career has been in the Treasury but his work as permanent secretary in the environment department will help ensure that his agenda is not just shaped through a Treasury prism.

"Sir Richard Wilson has been a staunch defender of the values of a politically impartial civil service, appointed and promoted by fair and open competition on merit. These values are of immense benefit to the public interest in the UK. Sir Andrew will need to convince civil servants that he is prepared to uphold these values. I urge him to swiftly endorse the government's commitment to a Civil Service Act."