Comments for Whitehall Watch

Comment on Re(Dis)Organization of Britain’s Border Agencies by Susan P

Susan P — Wed, 22 Feb 2012 10:35:21 +0000

There is probably a related but less topical question about the (dis)organisation of HMRC – another body which was formed from agencies with differing histories and cultures, has suffered numerous changes of scope over the last few years including the transfer of some customs powers to UKBA, and is at least partly or intermittently dysfunctional. What is clear is that the actual process of re-organisation is hardly ever completely successful unless the new organisation is allowed a fairly long period of stability in which to settle down. A fairly successful example is the creation of Jobcentre Plus from previous benefits and employment agencies – though JCP has now been stripped of its agency status (in the pursuit of efficiency?).

Comment on My Big Fat Greek Government? by Des McConaghy

Des McConaghy — Sat, 18 Feb 2012 09:25:26 +0000

I’ve quickly scanned this – a good summary of what is now familiar Greek failings. But when Colin says “These distortions are so great it is obvious Greece would never have met the criteria for joining the Euro if they had been known at the time” my obvious question is why were they not known at the time?! For example what on earth were the bureaucrats doing in Brussels – or even in those Member States when they were signing up to the Euro? All of which more generally begs the question about the efficiency – or otherwise – of the EU public audit services: do they routinely report on such matters and, if they do, is such information fed into the EU budget process?

Comment on My Big Fat Greek Government? by Greece again | Whitehall Watch

Greece again | Whitehall Watch — Mon, 13 Feb 2012 11:43:42 +0000

[...] Greece again Posted on February 13, 2012 by Colin Talbot with Greece in the news again, those who haven’t already might want to read my analysis of the background to their fiscal crisis here. [...]

Comment on The Work Programme: individual versus systemic outcomes by Ralph Musgrave

Ralph Musgrave — Thu, 09 Feb 2012 18:12:35 +0000

Good point Colin. I quite agree that it is crass to aim to get “participants get a “long term” job”. But you don’t think the twits who set up these schemes can think in terms of abstracts like “reducing unemployment in the aggregate” or “reducing NAIRU” do you?

My attempt to analyse this whole issue in entirely abstract terms (which might interest you) is here:

http://mpra.ub.uni-muenchen.de/19094/

I think some ancient Greek philosopher said that the abstract governs the physical. Too right.

Comment on The Work Programme: individual versus systemic outcomes by thomas2bhughes

thomas2bhughes — Wed, 08 Feb 2012 23:55:57 +0000

Colin you have highlighted a major concern here. How can the work programme get the long term unemployed back into work in a shrinking job market and economy with tens of thousands of qualified candidates for those jobs? This can only be accomplished by throwing money at it which the government is doing to “Bribe” employers into taking on the long term unemployed instead of those qualified candidates who have lost theirs. I fail to see how the scheme will reduce unemployment in the long term I hope I am wrong in thinking that.

Comment on Plan B: Spending Review 2012 by Spending Review 2012 – maybe | Whitehall Watch

Spending Review 2012 – maybe | Whitehall Watch — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 20:38:18 +0000

[...] in what was always going to be a period of economic and financial turbulence, one way or another. I did suggest back in October 2010, when the last one was announced, that a 2012 Spending Review was distinctly [...]

Comment on Old Wine in New Bottles? Logging the Name Changes in Government by S E

S E — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 18:21:56 +0000

‘Alignment’ is hilarious – I am sorry to say something so trivial, but it sounds very much like Yoga. Very popular among members of the Coalition Government and senior civil servants I am sure. So much for the Zeitgeist.

Comment on Old Wine in New Bottles? Logging the Name Changes in Government by Richard Blogger (@richardblogger)

Richard Blogger (@richardblogger) — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 16:43:14 +0000

In terms of NHS Reforms we had:

1) Liberating the NHS
2) Modernising the NHS
3) Saving the NHS

#1 is rarely mentioned these days, #2 is used most often, but #3 is used when the government are losing control of the agenda and want to cause a bit of hysteria. Incidentally, has anyone used the NHS recently and didn’t think the facilities were “modern”? The term is used to scare those people who have never used the NHS (which is most people – most of us are well) to imply that the NHS is some 50s organisation that has been preserved in aspic (or, I guess, agar).

Comment on The Great Train Wreck of Twenty-Thirteen by Whitehall: new buzz words, old woes | Public Finance Opinion

Whitehall: new buzz words, old woes | Public Finance Opinion — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 12:59:36 +0000

[...] slightly whimsical end of year message for 2010 was entitled ‘The Great Train Wreck of 2013’ and a month earlier I’d advised that the government could do with a notice hung in every [...]

Comment on Implement That by John

John — Sat, 21 Jan 2012 22:12:58 +0000

‘waking up to the reality.’
Camerwrong and 0z one born every minute wouldn’t know reality if it…. well you get the drift.
Gentle Cuts & Growth would be wonderfuel…. Yes they are all gas and no electric..

If we had it we’d be living the dream.
With this shower it’s a nightmare.
Please can we have an election.
How many Liberals would get returned if they said they made a mistake and went to the country?

Comment on Leadership in the Civil Service: Those that Can, Do Policy. Those That Can’t….. by Des McConaghy

Des McConaghy — Sat, 21 Jan 2012 15:53:51 +0000

Yes Colin – but it will now probably be up to established credit rating agencies to monitor the operation and control of public services – so I am not sure what role is envisaged for a modern civil service. And you’ll remember that when New Labour introduced their Government Resources and Accounts Bill the basic idea was “to make government a better client for the private sector”; that and the general need to go about government in a more business-like way. Clearly, too, we did not then want parliament pouring over the actual performance measures or even a really serious role for public audit – especially (I now suppose) with reliable agencies such as Standard & Poor’s waiting in the wings. In short we have recently been living through a total transformation of our government – including our civil service. And so if a line is now to be drawn in the sand, the relevant questions are where .. and also by whom?! As old Archimedes once complained, “Give me the firm ground on which to stand and I will move the earth”! But my bet, as a bottom line, is at least to use every possible opportunity to promote and encourage transparency – regardless of one’s position in our social or public service hierarchies, recalling perhaps Homer’s Ajax, battling in the mist imposed by stupid gods on a stupid war: “Kill us if it is your pleasure, but in daylight”!

Comment on Retro Grad Tax – petition by christinapd

christinapd — Fri, 20 Jan 2012 23:08:07 +0000

I have just come across this blog post having read some of your other posts which I thought were quite sensible. I find it difficult to believe that anyone could consider such a move. The whole issue about HE funding needs to be reviewed starting with a blank sheet of paper. My daughter paid £3000 per year for her course that was her choice. In her first year her university broke up for Christmas the second week in December – she didn’t return until February. If universities condensed their full time courses and ran them like a business that would cut down costs instead of penalising past graduates who didn’t sign up on that basis. If courses are out of the reach of most ordinary people then they need to review the way they deliver them

Comment on Leadership in the Civil Service: Those that Can, Do Policy. Those That Can’t….. by shodanalexm

shodanalexm — Fri, 20 Jan 2012 19:38:34 +0000

It seems entirely appropriate that this most unthinking of governments has failed to learn one of the starkest – and simplest? – lessons available from past governance mistakes.

Comment on The Great Train Wreck of Twenty-Thirteen by Implement That | Whitehall Watch

Implement That | Whitehall Watch — Fri, 20 Jan 2012 16:11:40 +0000

[...] put ‘deliver’). My slightly whimsical end of year message for 2010 was entitled ‘The Great Train Wreck of 2013‘ and a month earlier I’d advised that “This Government could do with a notice [...]

Comment on Dangerous SNP Hubris Over Referendum by John

John — Wed, 11 Jan 2012 17:18:39 +0000

Can Yorkshire vote for independence?

Comment on Dangerous SNP Hubris Over Referendum by Des McConaghy

Des McConaghy — Tue, 10 Jan 2012 22:01:13 +0000

Colin fears the SNP may act like an “elective dictatorship” – which sounds just like what Lord Hailsham called the Westminster government: the “Elected Dictatorship”! Personally I am just waiting until somebody begins to spell out what all the present rhetoric means in terms of taxation and expenditures. We know the Barnett formula is a dose of rubbish (as confirmed by its author Lord Barnett) and that about half the spending in Scotland has nothing to do with their expensive Scottish Parliament – just as we know and that the separate arrangements with each of our three devolved countries are just as indiosyncratic and remote from really effective scrutiny as the Westminster parliament’s own procedures for determining taxation and expenditures. So I wonder if the SNP is now going to get out their calculators and spell out just what they mean by the Scottish people governing themselves and we could begin trying something similar for the whole of Great Britain and Northern Ireland – and even for England?!

Comment on The ‘Managerial Revolution’ is Over: They Won? by Lupulco

Lupulco — Mon, 02 Jan 2012 15:31:43 +0000

Absolutely nothing,
On reading James Burnhams, book “The Managerial Revolution,” This was the basis of 1984, Brave New World etc, we watched the films, laughed and said, “its only Science Fiction, it won’t happen,”
Well James Burnham was the most under exposed yet influential man the world as known, his book was the text book for all to see, if they wanted to.
So just go back to sleep, it is all over now.

Comment on Apple and the perils of success – lessons for public management by testing2

testing2 — Tue, 20 Dec 2011 23:57:37 +0000

I agree – the trafford centre store looks fantastic, but finding someone to help amongst the 20 staff running around demo ing products or grouping and chatting to one another.
I just wanted to pay and it’s not clear where to do so. I literally stood in the centre of the shop for 3 minutes just looking for someone to take my money from the 5 colleagues having a chat.
Who 2 weeks earlier were clear to tell me the store had closed at 5 to 10
The air con is poor or not on as the store is hot, sticky and stinks.

Comment on George Osborne’s Autumn Statement: We’re All Doomed by Osborne’s statement: we’re all doomed | Public Finance Opinion

Osborne’s statement: we’re all doomed | Public Finance Opinion — Tue, 29 Nov 2011 14:20:34 +0000

[...] This post first appeared on Whitehall Watch [...]

Comment on The ‘Managerial Revolution’ is Over: They Won? by Maria McGee

Maria McGee — Tue, 29 Nov 2011 13:20:47 +0000

The question is what are we going to do about it?