Purdah

Now that the election has been called, Civil Servants are in what is referred to as "purdah" (also known as 'the pre-election period'). Guidance is issued by the Cabinet Office to all civil servants as to what is allowable. This year there are also local elections on 6th May, so employees of local authorities facing elections also jhave their own period of 'purdah'.

An excellent Standard Note from the House of Commons Library is available here.

Should the result of the election be unclear, 'purdah' will continue until it is clear that a new government can command a majority in the House of Commons. This is usually when a vote of confidence has been held after the Queen's Speech.

The Structure of Government Departments (UK)

Listen to a classic conversation from the first episode of "Yes Minster" here.

There are a lot of 'Secretaries' in a Government Department! There are two structures within a typical Government Department.

The Political Structure

The Political Head of a Department is usually called the "Secretary of State for (name of Department)". Sometimes they are known by a different title (The Chancellor of the Exchequer - who has overall responsibility for the Treasury. The Secretary of State for Justice currently has the title of 'Lord Chancellor') - They will be members of the Cabinet.

The next rung down is the Minister of State. At the most junior paid level is the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State.

Some of the Ministers may be assisted by a PPS (Parliamentary Private Secretary). These are unpaid MPs who acts as a minister's eyes and ears in Parliament, making sure the minister is kept well informed of backbench opinion. While they are not members of the Government, they are regarded as part of the "payroll vote" and are expected to vote with the government - or resign. It is often the first step towards a ministerial career.

Press Here to see the Ministers in the Department of Energy & Climate Change. and Here for the Ministry of Justice.

The Civil Service Structure

In the UK Ministers are assisted by Civil Servants - who are professional staff, not political appointments. There are strict restrictions on their political activity. The most senior Civil Servant in a Department is the Permanent Secretary. They run the civil service within that Department and are also the "Accounting Officer" for the Department. There is an excellent guide to the Civil Service available here. [See about us: Leadership]

Larger Departments may have an official known as the "Second Permanent Secretary". At the next level down are the "Director-Generals". The Structure within DECC is available on a pdf. here.

Ministers have their own Private Office, headed by their Private Secretary. The Private Secretary to the Secretary of State is the Principal Private Secretary.

Constitutional Reform & Governance Bill

A bill which will put the Civil Service on a statutory basis; deals with Treaty ratification; ends by-elections for hereditary Peers (which would end the hereditary peerage in the Lords - over a very long period of time (when the last 'elected hereditary' dies)); allows for removal, resignation; suspension and expulsion from the House of Lords; reforms the law on protests around Parliament - and other matters is now before the House of Commons.

You can monitor its progress

read the Bill

read the explanatory notes

read the House of Commons Library Research Paper

How Many Civil Servants in the UK?

In response to a parliamentary question, the Government has published its estimates of the number of civil servants, by department. While the civil service is often refered to as "Whitehall", the majority will work outside that wide street in London (which is the site of many of the major Departments of State (Treasury; Foreign Office; Ministry of Defence; Department of Health)

The figures are available at :-

http://www.statistics.gov.uk/downloads/theme_labour/Table6AllDepts.xls

Civil Service Bill

Lord Sheldon asked yesterday - "when [will the Government] introduce a Civil Service Bill and grant its consideration Parliamentary time." Such a bill has been promised for some time - but is still awaited. As with yesterday's post - the answer was that the Constitutional Renewal Bill will be introduced as soon as time allowed.

Comments were made about ensuring that the Civil Service have their impartiality safeguarded. It is a fundamental principle of the British system - but as yet, unprotected by statute.

The full exchange can be read at http://pubs1.tso.parliament.uk/pa/ld200809/ldhansrd/text/90127-0001.htm#09012747000354

Constitutional Reform

Pre-legislative scrutiny has become an increasingly important part of Parliament's work. In the last session one piece of proposed legislation considered by a Joint Committee of both Houses was the Draft Constitutional Renewal Bill. (Report at http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/jt200708/jtselect/jtconren/166/166.pdf).

There was no mention in the Queen's Speech about a full bill being introduced this session, but the Queen did say "My Government will continue to take forward proposals on constitutional renewal, including strengthening the role of Parliament and other measures." Baroness Royall, Leader of the House of Lords told peers in the subsequent debate "We will continue to work on measures aimed at improving our democracy and our constitution."


The draft bill had six parts, each dealing with issues raised in the Government's Governance of Britain programme. Key matters include abolishing the provisions covered by sections 132 to 138 of the Serious Organised Crime & Police Act 2005 concerning demonstrations in the vicinity of Parliament; The role of the Attorney General; the removal of the involvement of the Lord Chancellor in lower level judicial appointments; parliamentary consideration of treaties before ratification; and the placing of the Civil Service on a statutory basis - with codes of conduct.