.gif)
Monday 26 Jan 2009 @ 16:17
FDA
FDA
 Printable version
|
 E-mail this to a friend
|
Financial discipline should also apply to ministers, says FDA
The FDA today acknowledged the importance of financial literacy at senior levels in the civil service. Responding to proposals from the Conservative Party published today, Jonathan Baume, FDA General Secretary, said:
“It is important that everyone at senior levels in the civil service is financially literate and understands the importance of sound financial management of government spending. This is especially critical given the scale of the economic crisis facing the UK and the long term implications for public spending.
"As the Conservatives have acknowledged, there has been considerable training and devolvement in recent years of Senior Civil Servants in professional disciplines including financial management. Civil servants are already used to taking forward initiatives within the strict financial perimeters set out in the departmental spending plans.
"It is however important to emphasise that such discipline should also apply to ministers. Cost overruns and perceived waste are not about individual decisions but usually a consequence of political imperatives.
"Taxpayers have a right to feel confident that their money is being spent wisely. The single most important way of achieving this goal would be to improve the quality of political decision-making.
"Ministers need to take policy decisions supported by objective analysis and consultation; and allow draft legislation to be thoroughly prepared and adequately considered by Parliament. They also need to think twice before launching any legislation; and to assess the outcomes and costs of initiatives before the next one is launched. All too often, the Government is trying to do too much, spreading its resources too thinly and, as a consequence, limiting its effectiveness. If politicians will address the importance of better government, we will also see more prudent and cost-effective government."
Notes for editors
1. The FDA is the trade union and professional body representing 18,000 of the UK’s senior civil and public servants. Our members include policy advisors, senior managers, tax inspectors, economists, statisticians, accountants, special advisers, government lawyers, diplomats, crown prosecutors and NHS managers.
2. Members in HMRC are represented by the Association of Revenue and Customs (ARC), a section of the FDA.
3. The FDA (formerly the First Division Association) should be referred to simply as "The FDA" and can be described as "the senior public servants’ union".
4. For further information contact:
• Jonathan Baume, General Secretary, tel: 020 7401 5555 or 07976 951191.
• Oliver Rowe, Communications Officer, tel: 020 7401 5588 or 07590 838696.
“It is important that everyone at senior levels in the civil service is financially literate and understands the importance of sound financial management of government spending. This is especially critical given the scale of the economic crisis facing the UK and the long term implications for public spending.
"As the Conservatives have acknowledged, there has been considerable training and devolvement in recent years of Senior Civil Servants in professional disciplines including financial management. Civil servants are already used to taking forward initiatives within the strict financial perimeters set out in the departmental spending plans.
"It is however important to emphasise that such discipline should also apply to ministers. Cost overruns and perceived waste are not about individual decisions but usually a consequence of political imperatives.
"Taxpayers have a right to feel confident that their money is being spent wisely. The single most important way of achieving this goal would be to improve the quality of political decision-making.
"Ministers need to take policy decisions supported by objective analysis and consultation; and allow draft legislation to be thoroughly prepared and adequately considered by Parliament. They also need to think twice before launching any legislation; and to assess the outcomes and costs of initiatives before the next one is launched. All too often, the Government is trying to do too much, spreading its resources too thinly and, as a consequence, limiting its effectiveness. If politicians will address the importance of better government, we will also see more prudent and cost-effective government."
Notes for editors
1. The FDA is the trade union and professional body representing 18,000 of the UK’s senior civil and public servants. Our members include policy advisors, senior managers, tax inspectors, economists, statisticians, accountants, special advisers, government lawyers, diplomats, crown prosecutors and NHS managers.
2. Members in HMRC are represented by the Association of Revenue and Customs (ARC), a section of the FDA.
3. The FDA (formerly the First Division Association) should be referred to simply as "The FDA" and can be described as "the senior public servants’ union".
4. For further information contact:
• Jonathan Baume, General Secretary, tel: 020 7401 5555 or 07976 951191.
• Oliver Rowe, Communications Officer, tel: 020 7401 5588 or 07590 838696.
