Analysis

...and you’ll see the reform plan undergoing a mutation

The government’s Civil Service Reform Plan states: “Given ministers’ direct accountability to Parliament for the performance of their departments and for the implementation of their policy priorities, we believe they should have a stronger role in the recruitment of a permanent secretary.”

The biggest threat to civil service reform is a reshuffle

When the House of Commons this week began to debate the government’s House of Lords Reform Bill, it was dealing with a proposed piece of legislation which has at its heart two objectives: to make the Lords more democratic; and in doing so, to maintain the primacy of the Commons. It fails on both counts.

The government’s reform plans fall well short of the aim of creating a more professional civil service, says Dai Hudd

Good ideas on policymaking meet risky ones on accountability

The open data and transparency agendas must fit their needs

Ministers succeed by working with officials, not against them

The mutuals policy is missing an opportunity to win popularity

If only they’d do the same with elected police commissioners

Despite the rhetoric, government has failed to engage with the charity sector. Just look at the Work Programme, says Stephen Bubb

The Department of Health’s new information strategy sets out plans to standardise data collection in NHS bodies, and to share and use it more effectively. Colin Marrs examines a trailblazer for the open data agenda

The papers have been full of frothy stories and silly stereotypes about the civil service, says Mark Lowcock. This risks distracting us from the real – and very important – challenge of adapting to the tasks at hand

CBI director-general John Cridland writes (CSW p4, 12 April 2012) that the government has made little progress with its public service reforms over the past nine months. Those working in health and education witnessing major changes being pushed through might beg to differ, as might the civil servants trying to make sense of proposals from ministers for the ‘right to challenge’, ‘right to provide’ and now the ‘right to choose’.

It's the UK’s only way out of the ‘energy trilemma’, says David Handley.

The MoD reforms make sense; the carrier cuts do not

The legal clock is ticking for the government, as ministers must decide next week whether to release the NHS transition risk register or appeal again against the Information Tribunal’s decision that it should be published.

Open public services must improve quality, not just cut costs

The government’s suggestion last month that it could create a ‘right to choose’ between service providers – made in its Open Public Services 2012 document – may provide a valuable signal that it is committed to increasing individuals’ power to choose between providers.

Last July, I helped to launch the Open Public Services white paper alongside the prime minister. The CBI welcomed the government’s pledge to open up every public service to new providers, but warned that the government would have to be bold to make its ambition a reality.

The repeated funding scandals must be tackled at their roots, says Matt Ross

Charities, civic engagement, public services reform and localism are at the heart of the government’s vision. However, the realisation of its vision of better services and more engaged citizens within the context of rapidly reducing budgets requires creative thinking. Charities have a unique role to play in building the society and services of the future, but those ambitions seem likely to remain unfulfilled if the right support and dialogue with government is not in place.

The civil service has been a front runner in treating lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGB & T) workers fairly. Same sex adoption and parenting leave is available, same sex partners are recognised in pensions, and there are LGB & T staff networks.

The PM should renew his vow to avoid organisational change