Disappointment over omission of Civil Service Bill - 26 November 2003

The FDA today expressed its disappointment that a Civil Service Bill was not included as part of this year's legislative programme in the Queen's speech.

FDA general secretary Jonathan Baume said: "The government has made repeated commitments to a Civil Service Act over the past few years, but it has once again failed to act."

"While we understand that there is only limited legislative time, a Civil Service Act would help the government's wider aims of civil service and public sector reform by underpinning - and being seen to underpin - the long term political impartiality and integrity of the civil service.

"Without the security of legislation in place, the government will continue to be open to allegations of politicisation of the civil service, and may also waste important political energy on persuading people of their good intentions."

Ends

Notes for Editors
1. The FDA is the trade union and professional body representing the UK's 11,000 senior civil and public servants. Our members include policy advisors, senior managers, tax inspectors, economists, statisticians, accountants, special advisers, government lawyers, crown prosecutors and NHS managers.

2. The FDA, the Committee on Standards in Public Life, the Public Administration Select Committee (PASC) and the Civil Service Commissioners - plus the government itself - have all indicated their support for a Civil Service Act in the past year. PASC has also published its own draft civil service bill.

3. For further information contact: