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IfG statement on PASC’s call for a Parliamentary Commission

Recently the Public Administration Select Committee published a new report, Truth to Power: How Civil Service reform can succeed, a year-long study into the future of the Civil Service. It recommends the establishment of a Parliamentary Commission to report before the end of the Parliament on a comprehensive change programme for Whitehall.

Peter Riddell, Director of the Institute for Government, said:

“The Institute for Government believes that a Parliamentary Commission on the Civil Service, as proposed by PASC, will only work if it concentrates on the longer-term issues of the structure of Whitehall and does not undermine or hold-up current reform efforts. Consequently, the focus should be on the role and functions of government for the next parliament, covering the frequently highlighted issues of accountability and Secretary of State/Permanent Secretary relations, the organisation of departments, the way Whitehall operates and how services are delivered.  

“Any inquiry should be chaired by an independent person with experience of Whitehall and large organisations and not by someone who could be perceived to be on the side of civil servants or ministers, therefore not a former cabinet minister or permanent secretary. The aim should be to achieve broad support for change post-2015 by involving a wide range of civil servants, politicians, arm’s length bodies, the business world, academia and the public.”


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