Government launches plan to rewire the Civil Service

Civil Service workforce spans half-a-million staff

The Civil Service employs over half-a-million staff across Northern Ireland, Scotland, Wales, England, and internationally, a footprint larger than any single private sector entity in the UK. Eighty per cent of this workforce is based outside of London.

The majority of the staff work in frontline delivery, including roles in tax offices, prisons, job centres, courts, military bases, and at borders. The workforce consists of 7 per cent policymakers, 55 per cent operational delivery staff, and various other professionals such as economists, scientists, and digital and data experts.

Global standing of the Civil Service declines

The UK Civil Service has historically been the most admired in the world, with approximately 50 countries modelling their own institutions on it. The Civil Service is no longer considered to be unequivocally the best in the world.

Cabinet Secretary reflects on 26-year career

The current Cabinet Secretary began their Civil Service career 26 years ago in October 2000, starting in the Lord Chancellor’s department. They had earned an MSc in economics from the LSE in 2000, where they studied industrial economics and game theory under John Sutton. Three months later, they began a one-year temporary economist contract at the department.

On their second day, facilities staff incorrectly identified them as a Grade 6 official and reduced the furniture to four chairs without arms.

Historical foundations established in 1916

Prime Minister Lloyd George established the Cabinet Office in 1916, appointing Maurice Hankey as the first Cabinet Secretary to improve cross-government communication and policy delivery. The 1918 Haldane committee on the machinery of government later introduced a structure for departments based on the services they provide, while emphasising the use of evidence in policy-making.

The Carltona principle, established by a 1943 Court of Appeal case, dictates that officials and Ministers share the same legal personality, meaning there is no distinction between their decisions.

Constitutional Reform and Governance Act enshrines values

The current Cabinet Secretary is the successor to 14 previous holders of the office.

This legislation also placed the Northcote-Trevelyan recommendations for fair and open competition and merit-based recruitment on a legislative footing.

Rewired State organisation encouraged innovation

Rewired State was an organisation that hosted hack days for designers and programmers to encourage innovation in government services. The initiative sought to improve public access to UK government open data.