This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-23250854

The article has changed 4 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
Senior civil servants could lose jobs every five years Ministers to 'hand pick' civil service staff
(about 11 hours later)
Senior government officials could be moved or lose their jobs every five years under plans to give ministers more control over the civil service. Francis Maude has unveiled a package of measures aimed at ensuring ministers - and not civil servants - call the shots in government departments.
Cabinet office minister Francis Maude will outline proposed changes to the terms of newly appointed permanent secretaries - the most senior officials in government - in a speech later. Ministers will be able to hand pick more of their top officials - and permanent secretaries will serve five-year terms renewable on performance.
Mr Maude has said civil service reform is not happening quickly enough. The move is meant to ensure ministerial instructions are carried out.
Unions warned against politicising the role of government officials. But unions fear it will lead to a politicisation of the civil service and could undermine its work.
The changes planned would see some Whitehall staff reporting directly to ministers rather than other civil servants. Civil servants are meant to give politically neutral advice to ministers, with their impartiality guaranteed by continuity of service, no matter which party is in Downing Street.
The most senior officials in each department would be appointed on "fixed tenure appointments" and there would be no presumption that, after five years in the job, their contract would be renewed. 'Accountable'
It would move the UK civil service closer to the American model where there is a wholesale change of staff whenever a new administration is elected. But Mr Maude is frustrated by the pace of change in the civil service, which has been dramatically reduced in size since the coalition came to power.
Permanent civil service "Ministers' offices are meant to be there to serve the ministers. All we are saying is we should formalise what should be the case, that these offices are appointed directly by the ministers and accountable to them," he told the BBC News Channel.
The BBC's political correspondent Ross Hawkins said some in the coalition had been "itching to change a civil service they regard as too slow to respond to their demands". The Cabinet Office minister wants the civil service to be more businesslike in the way that it operates, with more focus on policy delivery and cost control.
Political neutrality and continuity no matter who is in charge have long been hallmarks of the British civil service. He denied the changes would lead to a politicised civil service.
But, while the government will stress the civil service remains impartial, under the coalition's plans ministers' private offices would be bigger and officials will be personally appointed by and report to the secretary of state. "We think the current system, where we have a politically impartial civil service, which is capable of serving any government with equal enthusiasm and dedication and passion and commitment is a very important part of how Britain can be made to be really successful."
Senior public officials trade union the FDA - which represents around 18,000 civil servants - warned Whitehall could be politicised, with mandarins depending on politicians for their careers. But he added: "It has to be the case that ministers need to feel that their offices are their offices, not the department's office, and that's the change that we will put in place.
"You don't want to have a sense, which some ministers have mentioned to me, that sometimes it feels like the department's office is being leant to the minister.
"It needs to feel like what should be the reality, that it's the minister's office, directly accountable to the minister."
'Fixed tenure'
Under Mr Maude's plans ministers' private offices would be bigger and officials will be personally appointed by and report to the secretary of state.
Some Whitehall staff would also report directly to ministers rather than other civil servants.
The most senior officials in each department - the permanent secretaries - would be appointed on "fixed tenure appointments" and there would be no presumption that, after five years in the job, their contract would be renewed.
Senior public officials trade union the FDA - which represents about 18,000 civil servants - warned Whitehall could be politicised, with mandarins depending on politicians for their careers.
General secretary Dave Penman said: "We remain very concerned that the danger is that it will lead to politicisation rather than personalisation.
"We see that it is a good idea giving ministers more support, but we see real dangers in personal appointment by ministers of an extended group of civil servants."
Prime Minister David Cameron has charged Mr Maude with reforming the way government departments are run but said last year he did not want to see the system of a "permanent civil service" changed and rejected the idea of moving to a French or American system.Prime Minister David Cameron has charged Mr Maude with reforming the way government departments are run but said last year he did not want to see the system of a "permanent civil service" changed and rejected the idea of moving to a French or American system.
One of his most senior advisers left Number 10 in 2012 frustrated that the civil service stifled some of his more radical ideas. Steve Hilton reportedly said British "bureaucracy masters the politicians".One of his most senior advisers left Number 10 in 2012 frustrated that the civil service stifled some of his more radical ideas. Steve Hilton reportedly said British "bureaucracy masters the politicians".