BROWN MOVE OF CIVIL SERVICE GOVERNANCE PRINCIPLES UNDER PARLIAMENT WELCOMED BY FDA

Responding to Gordon Brown's proposed constitutional changes announced today, Jonathan Baume, general secretary of the FDA, the union for senior public and civil servants, said: "The FDA welcomes Prime Minister Brown’s announcement that he will reinforce the neutrality of the civil service, and that the core principles governing it will no longer be set at the discretion of the executive but will be legislated by Parliament." The FDA has long campaigned for a Civil Service Act to enshrine civil service values of independence and impartiality under Parliament. The union will be considering the detail of the full statement and the Governance of Britain green paper over the coming days. ### Notes for Editors 1. The FDA is the trade union and professional body representing 17,000 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. The FDA (formerly First Division Association) should be referred to simply as "The FDA" and can be described as "the senior public servants’ union". 3. For further information contact: • Jessica Stark, FDA head of communications, 020 7401 5587 or 07967 484 441