3
5.
Miss Dunn has referred to the pressures on the
Civil Service over the past 6 years or so. While I do not
go so far as Miss Dunn in saying that some departments are
near breaking point, there are some signs of over-stretch,
particularly in areas of personnel management and communications,
which in some departments tend to have been left a little
to one side.
6.
During these past few years the burden of work
falling on the public service has expanded enormously as
we carry through the multifarious programmes aimed at
improving the quality of life in our community, and meeting
rising and rightful expectations.
While this expansion
and these aims have been necessary and right, and have
enjoyed wide support, they have undoubtedly put a very severe
strain on the middle and upper management levels throughout
the service. In the circumstances it is not surprising
that good staff relations and good man-management have sometimes
suffered. The problem and its cause are however quite clear,
and Members may rest assured that the Administration will
take steps to put it right by reviewing personnel arrangements
generally. I shall be mentioning later some specific
measures which we propose to take now.
7.
I should now like to reply to three specific
staff matters raised by Miss Dunn.
8.
As regards training, despite the very great pressures
on the service, there has in fact been a steady improvement
in/.
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