News from the FDA

15 May 2002

[Embargoed until 00.01am Thursday 16 May]

Act now to underpin reform, says FDA

Thecivil service must change or lose the confidence of ministers, FDA GeneralSecretary Jonathan Baume told delegates at the unions annual conference today[16 May]. But he added that there is also an obligation on ministers to upholdthe values of the civil service by acting on its commitment to a Civil ServiceAct.

JonathanBaume, FDA General Secretary, said:

The UK civil service is a very successful and oftenunderrated organisation, but there remains significant room for improvement.The core task of the civil service is to deliver the manifesto of the electedgovernment of the day. That is why we are here. However, the service is stillfailing to put people at its very heart and all too often departments areagreeing programmes with ministers, yet failing to ensure that the people withthe right skills are in the right place to deliver. We must professionalisehuman resource management in the civil service if we are to retain theconfidence of ministers. And if we lose that confidence then the future for thecivil service is bleak.

At the same time, if civil servants are to continue toembrace change, they must also be reassured that the underpinning values of thecivil service politically impartial, appointed and promoted on merit and freeof political interference are enshrined in law. These values have served theUK well for the past 150 years. The government must now move forward on itscommitment to a Civil Service Act.

(Continues overleaf)

Over recent months, the government has been criticised foraccepting donations from wealthy businessmen who stand to gain from governmentdecisions. Ministers have not hesitated to explain that key decisions weretaken by civil servants not ministers. This relies on the perceived integrityof the civil service. A Civil Service Act will uphold and reinforce thatintegrity and will help, not impede, the change that the FDA itself desires.

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. The FDA Annual Delegate Conference is notopen to the press.For further information contact:

Jonathan Baume (general secretary) on 020-7343-1111 or 07976-951191 (mobile)

Simon Moore (chief communicationsofficer) on 020 7343 1120 or 07967484441 (mobile)