Union responds to Government's proposed cuts to Senior Civil Service

The FDA today responded widely in the media to Government proposals - contained in the Putting the Frontline First: Smarter Government white paper - to cut the Senior Civil Service pay bill by up to 20% and to relocate up to 10% of civil servants out of the South East.

Speaking on the BBC News Channel, FDA general secretary Jonathan Baume acknowledged that parts of the white paper "were in line with widespread thinking about the need to devolve powers from the centre [and] give more power to individual citizens".

But he went on to say: "I am concerned about picking targets for reducing the number of staff or relocating a percentage from London, because it is really looking at the problem of public expenditure through the wrong end of the telescope.

"What this government and the government that takes office in May after the General Election needs to do is to set out where does it want public services to be in five years' time… Following that you then make decisions about the numbers of people you need at senior levels of the civil service."

On the proposed review of senior pay across the whole public sector, Baume said that the FDA's evidence to the Public Administration Select Committee earlier in the year argued for a review of this kind.

He added: "The public will only have confidence in senior salaries if they can understand the principles that lie behind setting salaries and those salaries are transparent."

Press release
Proposed 20% cut to Senior Civil Service is 'irresponsible', says FDA

Media appearances
FDA general secretary Jonathan Baume appeared today on Sky News, Channel 4 News, BBC News Channel, LBC and BBC Wales drivetime programme

FDA mentions
Brown promises action on 'excessive' public sector pay
bbc.co.uk
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/8398116.stm

For further FDA mentions please click on the following link:
FDA in the Media