FDA JOINS MPS' CALL FOR A CIVIL SERVICE ACT<br><em>Senior civil servants' union deeply concerned over 'blacklist'</em>

The FDA, the union representing senior public servants, joined MPs' calls for a Civil Service Act and expressed its 'deep concern' over revelations that Home Office MP Gerry Sutcliff had asked his department for lists of officials who supported or opposed his Offender Management policy. FDA head of business development Paul Whiteman said: "The FDA is deeply concerned that a minister should demand a list of officials according to whether they supported or opposed his policies. This smacks of politicisation and risks undermining the core civil service values of independence and impartiality. "The FDA welcomes the publication of the Public Administration Select Committee's (PASC) report Politics and Administration: Ministers and Civil Servants, and we look forward to considering its detail. The FDA agrees that ministers' expectations should be accompanied by clarity about the civil service's constitutional position. We strongly echo the PASC's call for a Civil Service Act to enshrine the values of independence and impartiality of the civil service in legislation." 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