WIREDGOV

Responding to today’s PAC report on ‘managing early departures in central government’, Peter Thomas, Programme Director at the Institute for Government, said:

 “With fewer staff and ambitious reform programme, many departments are clear they need to redesign their ways of working. But too many staff are still waiting to see the promised new ways of working put into practice.

 “The last spending review required savings in central administrative costs at a scale and pace that guaranteed unintended consequences – whether losing the wrong staff at the wrong time or cutting services that people value and depend upon. A different approach will be needed in the run up to the next spending review to produce sustainable savings, efficiency and productivity improvements.

 “The PAC report fails to mention what we see as one the most significant challenges posed by successive phases of staff reductions: the impact on the energy and motivation of managers and leaders in government deaprtments.  A key test for success is ensuring the right people stay on in the Civil Service to see the next round through.”