Attorney General's Chambers
31
The Committee felt generally sympathetic towards the problems of retention described in a submission from the Attorney General. The extensive structural and complementing proposals covered in the submission must first be examined by the Administration, and we ask that the Committee be addressed on those aspects of its concern outside the context of this overall review. We would, however, support the re-creation of the rank of Deputy Principal Crown Counsel. We believe that the salary recommendations now made will help to resolve the problems to which reference is made. There may be a need for additional senior staff, but we believe that these requirements can be met within the existing rank structure.
The Judiciary
32
The Committee considered various regrading proposals but decided to recommend no changes. In a number of cases more detailed investigation is involved which will need to be undertaken outside the context of this overall review.
Commissioner, London Office
33
We think it now appropriate to upgrade from D5 to D6. This is in fact the level of recent occupants of the post. We do not regard the London Office as a department, and therefore the current ranking of the deputy post is unaffected.
Chief Staff Officer, Civil Aid Services
34
This post has been reviewed regularly over the years. We now consider that the changed responsibilities are sufficient to warrant upgrading from D1 to D2, and so recommend.
Deputy Secretary posts, Government Secretariat
35
We considered the difficulties that arise as a result of the Deputies (D3) to Secretaries, Government Secretariat (D6) being ranked differently from the Deputies (D4) to Heads of Group I departments (D6). This not only places obstacles in the way of transfers between these Deputy posts, but results in a salary differential much larger than between any other two Directorate levels having a superior/subordinate relationship. The problem would disappear if they were ranked the same, and so far as level of responsibility is concerned there is a case for this. In view of the number of posts potentially involved we should like to see an assessment of the effects that any regrading might have on overall Directorate career progression. This issue is of course also tied in with our
separate recommendation on the provision of an additional rank in the Administrative Service.
The ranking of departmental secretaries
36
It was put to us that in the context of present day departmental complexities and the importance of effective man management a number of departmental secretary posts should be upgraded to D2. We were advised that an examination of further needs in the staff management field is now in hand, and prefer to await the outcome of this before making recommendations.
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