the Civil Service Flashcards
What is the civil service?
This is the administrative or bureaucratic arm of government whose members are traditionally servants of the Crown
How have civil servants traditionally been divided?
Into those who work on specific areas of policy and those who work across the service
What was the civil service criticised for?
for being inefficient and obstructive + pro establishment
In recent years what key developments have affected the civil service?
The rise of special advisers (“spin doctors”)
What have some argued the creation of executive agencies and rise of special advisers have lead to?
the politicisation of the service
What does the politicisation (rise of spads) of the civil service threaten?
its traditional principles of impartiality, anonymity and permanence
What were the 3 traditional principles of the civil service?
- impartiality
- anonymity
- permanence
What year was John Majors Citizens Charter?
1991
What did John Majors Citizens Charter 1991 emphasis?
the importance of quality in public services
By 2005 how many agencies were there?
130
