WEDNESDAY, MAY 9, 1990
CONSTRUCTIVE CRITICISM OF CIVIL SERVICE WELCOME
THE PUBLIC SERVICE HAD BEEN A FOCUS OF ATTENTION DURING THE BUDGET DEBATE AND SOME HARSH THINGS HAD BEEN SAID ABOUT THE ATTITUDE OF CIVIL SERVANTS AND THEIR PRODUCTIVITY, THE CHIEF SECRETARY, THE HON SIR DAVID FORD, TOLD THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY).
LEADING OFF REPLIES BY FOUR OFFICIAL MEMBERS IN THE RESUMED BUDGET DEBATE, SIR DAVID SAID CONCERN HAD ALSO BEEN EXPRESSED BY MANY MEMBERS OVER UNREST IN THE CIVIL SERVICE AND THE LEVEL OF THE PAY RISE.
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MAKING A GENERAL COMMENT, SIR DAVID SAID THAT KNOCKING CIVIL SERVICE WAS A POPULAR SPORT. "POLITICIANS THE WORLD OVER ARE ENTHUSIASTIC PARTICIPANTS. THERE IS NEVER A SHORTAGE OF CHEERING PANS IN THE MEDIA AND IN THE PUBLIC TO APPLAUD THEIR EFFORTS AND URGE THEM ON," HE SAID.
"WE IN THE SERVICE WELCOME CONSTRUCTIVE CRITICISM AND INDEED IT IS ESSENTIAL FOR ANY CIVIL SERVICE TO BE OPEN TO CRITICISM AND TO TAKE CAREFUL HEED OF IT AND TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT.
"BUT IT IS MUCH EASIER TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT CRITICISM IF IT IS ACCOMPANIED BY CONSTRUCTIVE SUGGESTIONS ON WHERE IMPROVEMENTS CAN BE MADE, HE SAID.
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THE CHIEF SECRETARY NOTED THAT THERE WERE COMMENTS THAT THE CIVIL SERVICE WAS TOO BIG AND WAS TAKING TOO LARGE A SLICE OF PUBLIC
EXPENDITURE.
"THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY WILL DESCRIBE SOME OF THE MEASURES WE HAVE BEEN TAKING THROUGH THE STAR CHAMBER, VALUE FOR MONEY STUDIES AND THE RESOURCE ALLOCATION SYSTEM TO TACKLE THAT PROBLEM," SIR DAVID SAID.
"WE HAVE ACHIEVED CONSIDERABLE SAVINGS AND ARE DETERMINED TO DO EVEN BETTER IN THE YEARS AHEAD. BUT WHEN WE HAVE DONE ALL WE CAN TO SQUEEZE THE FAT OUT OF THE SYSTEM, SOME MORE DIFFICULT DECISIONS WILL HAVE TO BE TAKEN IF WE ARE TO REDUCE THE PUBLIC SECTOR FURTHER.
"AND HERE IT MAY BE WORTH POINTING OUT THAT THE CIVIL SERVICE DOES NOT CONSIST OF A HUGE POOL OF ANONYMOUS TEA-DRINKING BUREAUCRATS SITTING IN OFFICES PUSHING PAPER.
"POLICEMEN. CORRECTIONAL SERVICES OFFICERS, NURSES, SOCIAL WELFARE OFFICERS AND TEACHERS ARE CIVIL SERVANTS TOO,' HE SAID.
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SINCE 1987 THE CIVIL SERVICE HAD EXPANDED AT AN ANNUAL AVERAGE RATE OF 1.6 PER CENT, MOST OF THE ADDITIONAL STAFF INVOLVED WENT INTO SERVICES SUCH AS HEALTH (2,100), IMMIGRATION (890), POLICE (820), FIRE SERVICES (650), SOCIAL WELFARE (620) AND EDUCATION (350), THE CHIEF SECRETARY NOTED.
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