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The Change and Issues of British Civil Service in the Thatcher Government

Research Project

Project/Area Number 63520040
Research Category

Grant-in-Aid for General Scientific Research (C)

Allocation TypeSingle-year Grants
Research Field Politics
Research InstitutionDoshisha University

Principal Investigator

KIMIMURA Akira  Doshisha Uni., Dep. of Law, Professor, 法学部, 教授 (50066148)

Project Period (FY) 1988 – 1989
Project Status Completed (Fiscal Year 1989)
Budget Amount *help
¥1,200,000 (Direct Cost: ¥1,200,000)
Fiscal Year 1989: ¥600,000 (Direct Cost: ¥600,000)
Fiscal Year 1988: ¥600,000 (Direct Cost: ¥600,000)
KeywordsCivil Service / Accountable Management / Public Management / Political Neutrality / New right / Ministerial responsibility / Treasury control / Public Accountability / 政治的中立性 / 公共支出の削減 / 支出に見合う価値 / 公共支出 / 応答責任
Research Abstract

Since the Conservatives came to power in 1979, there have important change in British Civil Service. Prime Minister M. Thatcher committed to reducing the scope and size of government and revitalizing the private sector. She also desired to make civil service more productive and managerially competent. But more fundamentally, she arrived questioning the loyalty of powerful bureaucracies to her policy agendas. Therefore she has taken a great interest than previous prime ministers in appointments to the top most positions in the civil service. RIPA's report stated the appointment process has become more personalized.... However, we do not believe that these appointments and promotion are based on the candidate's support for or commitment to particular political ideologies or objectives". Despite Mrs. Thatcher's acquittal, two genuine problems remained. Firstly, younger people will tend to make their advice what ministers want to hear rather than what they need to know. Secondly, the impression of politicization undo the principle of politically neutral civil service.
While most related issues were for political reasons, changes in the process of the civil service can be seen as an extension of developments beginning with the Rayner Scrutinies and moving through the Financial Management Initiative to Executive Agencies. In 1988, the Proposal of substantial delegation of departmental functions to autonomous and semi-autonomous agencies attracted renewed interest. But there remain two key pressures that inhibit radical change : the persistence of ministerial responsibility to Parliament and the stranglehold of Treasury control. These points exemplify how meaningful change in civil service is inextricably found to constitutional reform.

Report

(3 results)
  • 1989 Annual Research Report   Final Research Report Summary
  • 1988 Annual Research Report
  • Research Products

    (4 results)

All Other

All Publications (4 results)

  • [Publications] 君村昌: "サッチャ-政権下におけるイギリス公務員制度の変容と課題" 同志社法学. 39. (1990)

    • Description
      「研究成果報告書概要(和文)」より
    • Related Report
      1989 Final Research Report Summary
  • [Publications] Akira Kimimura: "The Change and Issues of British Civil Service in the Thatcher Government" Doshisha Hogaku. vol.39. (1990)

    • Description
      「研究成果報告書概要(欧文)」より
    • Related Report
      1989 Final Research Report Summary
  • [Publications] 君村昌: "サッチャ-政権下におけるイギリス公務員制度の変容と課題" 同志社大学. 39巻5・6号. (1990)

    • Related Report
      1989 Annual Research Report
  • [Publications] 君村昌: 同志社法学. 39巻5・6号. (1989)

    • Related Report
      1988 Annual Research Report

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Published: 1988-04-01   Modified: 2016-04-21  

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