FDA welcomes new civil service code

News from the FDA The union of choice for senior managers and professionals in public service 6 June 2006 For immediate release FDA WELCOMES NEW CIVIL SERVICE CODE The union representing senior public servants welcomed the publication of the new civil service code, which was launched by Sir Gus O'Donnell at today's 21st Century Public Services Conference in London. Speaking from the conference, FDA General Secretary Jonathan Baume said: "We welcome this code of ethics for the civil service which is now fit for the 21st century. "At a time when more people are entering the civil service from the private and wider public sectors, it is more important than ever to emphasise the values and ethics of an independent and impartial civil service. We are heartened that Sir Gus O'Donnell has made this a priority since becoming Head of the Civil Service." The new code has been made more concise and uses clearer language while retaining its emphasis on traditional civil service values of independence and impartiality. "This more accessible code will be more useful to civil servants of all grades. The FDA is especially pleased that civil servants can now report breaches of the code directly to the Civil Service Commissioners, as the FDA had long asked. Up to now, civil servants had to report breaches of the code to their department, which was not always ideal." While supportive of the new code, the FDA is still pressing, along with the Committee on Standards in Public Life and the Public Administration Select Committee, for a Civil Service Act. "The fact that the code can be changed by a small group of people at any time remains a concern. The civil service must be ready to serve an elected government of any political colour, not just the government of the day. Therefore, we need a Civil Service Act to enshrine these values in legislation, and move the oversight of civil service ethics and governance to Parliament, rather than sitting ministers." ### Notes for Editors 1. The FDA is the trade union and professional body representing 16,000 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, tel. 020 7343 1120 or 07967 484 441.