The Official History of the British Civil Service: Reforming the Civil Service, Volume I: The Fulton Years, 1966-81

This first volume of the Official History of the UK Civil Service covers its evolution from the seminal Northcote-Trevelyan Report of 1854 to the destruction of the 'old order' under Mrs Thatcher by 1981.Despite current concerns with good governance and policy delivery, little serious attention has been paid to the institution vital to both: the Civil Service. This Official History is designed to remedy this neglect, both by placing present problems in historical context and by providing a helpful structure in which others, and particularly former officials, may contribute to the debate. Starting with the seminal 1854 Northcote-Trevelyan Report, it covers the 'lost opportunity' of the 1940s when the Service failed to adapt the needs of 'big government' as advocated by Beveridge and Keynes. It then examines, in greater detail, the belated attempts at modernisation in the 1960s, the Service's vilification in the 1970s and the final destruction of the 'old order' during the first years of Mrs Thatcher's government.Particular light is shed on the origins of such current concerns asThe role of special advisers;The need for a Prime Minister's Department;The evolution of Parliamentary Select Committees to resolve the potential tension between bureaucracy and Parliamentary democracy.This book is based on extensive research into both recently released and unreleased papers, as well as interviews with leading participants. It is not comprehensive, fully covering neither individual Departments nor every level of official. Rather it concentrates on attempts to reform the Service from the centre. It thus has important lessons to offer all those, both inside and outside the UK, seeking to improve the quality of democratic government.This book will be of great interest to all students of British history, British government and politics, and of public adminstration in general, as well as well-informed lay readers.