15/01/2009
Civil Service Could Be Halved, Claims Former Minister
Former cabinet minister Digby Jones has claimed the 'dehumanising' civil service could be halved, and still provide value for money to the taxpayer.
Lord Jones, who was appointed a minister in Gordon Brown's first cabinet team, said he was 'amazed' by the over-staffing of government departments.
During his time as junior trade minister, Lord Jones said he found the experience "one of the most dehumanising and depersonalising experiences" anyone could have.
Lord Jones had insisted the civil service is "honest, stuffed full of decent people who work hard", but then claimed: "Frankly the job could be done with half as many, it could be more productive, more efficient, it could deliver a lot more value for money for the taxpayer."
He said: "I was amazed, quite frankly, at how many people deserved the sack and yet that was the one threat that they never ever worked under, because it doesn't exist."
The ex-CBI boss made the controversial remarks while addressing a committee of MPs.
Lord Jone added: "The whole system is designed to take the personality, the drive and the initiative out of a junior minister."
Appointed as part of the Prime Minister's 'government of all the talents', Lord Jones was granted a peerage, as he was not a directly elected politician. This allowed him to take a cabinet seat.
Lord Jones stepped down from his ministerial post in last October's front bench reshuffle.
(PR/JM)
Lord Jones, who was appointed a minister in Gordon Brown's first cabinet team, said he was 'amazed' by the over-staffing of government departments.
During his time as junior trade minister, Lord Jones said he found the experience "one of the most dehumanising and depersonalising experiences" anyone could have.
Lord Jones had insisted the civil service is "honest, stuffed full of decent people who work hard", but then claimed: "Frankly the job could be done with half as many, it could be more productive, more efficient, it could deliver a lot more value for money for the taxpayer."
He said: "I was amazed, quite frankly, at how many people deserved the sack and yet that was the one threat that they never ever worked under, because it doesn't exist."
The ex-CBI boss made the controversial remarks while addressing a committee of MPs.
Lord Jone added: "The whole system is designed to take the personality, the drive and the initiative out of a junior minister."
Appointed as part of the Prime Minister's 'government of all the talents', Lord Jones was granted a peerage, as he was not a directly elected politician. This allowed him to take a cabinet seat.
Lord Jones stepped down from his ministerial post in last October's front bench reshuffle.
(PR/JM)
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Northern Ireland WeatherToday:A sunny but frosty start for many. However cloud increases by midday with a few showers reaching the north coast, these mostly light but spreading inland this afternoon. Chilly. Maximum temperature 8 °C.Tonight:A rather cloudy evening with scattered showers. Becoming drier through the night with some good clear spells developing and a patchy frost away from coasts. Minimum temperature 0 °C.
