Category: Public Administration

Is the Civil Service Accountable to Parliament? Hodge vs O’Donnell spat opens a can of worms.

Is the Civil Service accountable to parliament?

Margaret Hodge MP, the formidable chair of the powerful Public Accounts Committee of Parliament says “yes”. Sir (now Lord) Gus O’Donnell and other ex-Mandarins say firmly “no”. (For details see the Guardian website here). Ironically, emerging in the week that Norman St John-Stevas (Baron St John of Fawsley) died, this dispute dates back to the introduction of the modern Select Committee system he initiated back in the early 1980s. Continue reading “Is the Civil Service Accountable to Parliament? Hodge vs O’Donnell spat opens a can of worms.” →

Localism: ‘It’s like letting go of your toddler’s bike’ says Mandarin

Dame Helen Ghosh DCB is, I’m sure, a very fine civil servant in may ways, but sensitive to others perspectives she’s clearly not.

Speaking at the NAO Conference on Performance yesterday (22 Feb 2012) Dame Helen was explaining how the Home office was attempting to devolve more powers to police forces, when she came up with an interesting insight into how Whitehall sees ‘localism’ Continue reading “Localism: ‘It’s like letting go of your toddler’s bike’ says Mandarin” →

Lies, Damned Lies, and Government ‘Efficiency’ Savings (Again)

It is nice to see that the new lot are just the same as the old lot, at least when it comes to reporting so-called “efficiency” or “waste” savings. Today Cabinet Office Minister Francis Maude was telling anyone who would listen that the Government anticipates £5 billion in cash savings this year.

Despite the spin, these are of course not efficiency savings and the official documents are careful to just refer to them as “cash savings” and “waste” – which anyone would be justified in thinking meant ‘efficiency’ savings. And indeed it all comes under the programme called “Efficiency” on the Cabinet Office website. Continue reading “Lies, Damned Lies, and Government ‘Efficiency’ Savings (Again)” →

The Work Programme: individual versus systemic outcomes

The government is very proud of its Work Programme. It is especially proud of the fact that the WPs private sector providers are only paid on the basis of individual outcomes – do the participants get a “long term” job. Continue reading “The Work Programme: individual versus systemic outcomes” →

Implement That

Watch out for the word “implementation” in 2012. It’s the new in-word in Whitehall. Continue reading “Implement That” →

Leadership in the Civil Service: Those that Can, Do Policy. Those That Can’t…..

Today (20 Jan 2012) the Public Administration Select Committee (PASC) published a scathing attack on the re-organisation at the top of the Civil Service that took place over Christmas. Continue reading “Leadership in the Civil Service: Those that Can, Do Policy. Those That Can’t…..” →

My Top Ten (most read) WhitehallWatch posts of 2011 (so far)

Continue reading “My Top Ten (most read) WhitehallWatch posts of 2011 (so far)” →

Academy Schools Funding System Fails – quelle surprise

I have been predicting for some time that some of the big structural changes to public services are likely to destabilise the financial systems in health, education and local government. So it comes as no surprise that tens of millions of pounds have been ‘accidentally’ awarded to new Academy Schools.  Continue reading “Academy Schools Funding System Fails – quelle surprise” →

Greek Deficit and Tax Evasion

One issue that keeps coming up around the Greek crisis is the degree of tax evasion. In the slide below I report the average Greek budget deficit per year on a decade by decade basis since the 1960s (figures on the left – calculated from OECD figures in an excellent paper you can find here). Continue reading “Greek Deficit and Tax Evasion” →

My Big Fat Greek Government?

The Greek crisis has given neo-liberals a a great opportunity to criticize ‘big government’ Hellenic style – they see the problem as a Big Fat Greek Government (apologies to the film of nearly that name). But as usual the truth about Greece’s problems are rather more complex – what Greece needs is not less Government, but better Government. Continue reading “My Big Fat Greek Government?” →