News from the FDA

11 July 2002

[Embargoed until 00.01am Friday 12 July]

Protecting public services from corporate corruption

The FDA today called on thegovernment to work with the Public Administration Committee, the Trades UnionCongress and other interested bodies to agree, as a matter of urgency, theterms of a new public service code to govern private sector companiesdelivering public services.

FDA general secretary JonathanBaume said that recent widespread failures of corporate governance in theprivate sector exemplified by potentially fraudulent accounting practices anda lack of ethical standards had added new strength to the arguments for acode to safeguard the public service ethos.

Greedis not good, nor an appropriate motivator in delivering public services. Thepublic service ethos of impartiality, accountability, trust, equity, probityand service has helped to keep the UKs public services among the least corruptin the world.

Recentevents have shown all too clearly that if the government is determined toincrease the extent of private sector delivery of public service, then theremust be a public service code to ensure that the ethical standards expected ofpublic servants and public service bodies are observed.

Thecode should also state that private providers must make themselves accountablethrough elected representatives for their policies and performance, with thehighest standards of openness and transparency. It must follow that all publicservice contracts to private sector providers should be public documents.

The FDA has submitted a motion tothe Trades Union Congress calling for urgent action on a public service code.The Commons Public Administration Committee published a draft code on 23 June.The FDA also supports the committees proposal for a Public Service Academy.

ENDS

Notesfor Editors

1. TheFDA is the trade union and professional body representing the UKs 11,000senior civil and public servants. Our members include policy advisors, seniormanagers, tax inspectors, economists, statisticians, accountants, governmentlawyers, crown prosecutors and NHS managers

2. Forfurther information contact:

JonathanBaume (general secretary) on020-7343-1111 or 07976-951191 (mobile)

SimonMoore (chief communications officer) on020 7343 1120 or 07967 484441 (mobile)