Senior Policy Advisers

Oral Answers to Questions — Civil Service – in the House of Commons at 12:00 am on 16 June 1969.

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Photo of Mr David Howell Mr David Howell , Guildford 12:00, 16 June 1969

asked the Minister for the Civil Service (1) how many senior policy advisers have now been appointed to Departments in accordance with the recommendations of the Fulton Committee;

(2) which departmental Ministers have now set up planning units, to advise them on long-term policy on the lines laid down in the Fulton Committee Report.

Photo of Mr Robert Sheldon Mr Robert Sheldon , Ashton-under-Lyne

asked the Minister for the Civil Service if he will make a statement on the appointment of senior policy advisers.

Photo of Mrs Judith Hart Mrs Judith Hart , Lanark

No posts with the title of policy adviser have been created since the report but many Departments have one or more senior officers with a recognised responsibility for advising on future policy. Seven major Departments, a list of which I will circulate in the OFFICIAL REPORT, have central planning machinery on the lines set out in the Fulton Report, and it is being developed elsewhere. Many other Departments have specialised and, in some cases, highly developed planning machinery but on different lines suited to their own needs.

Photo of Mr David Howell Mr David Howell , Guildford

Was not that innovation one of the central and more radical propositions in the Fulton Committee's Report which the Prime Minister accepted in this House? In any case, is not the question of long-term policy, from the point of view of the Government, one of the highest priority? Would it not be right to say that one of the things of which the Government are most urgently in need is some indication of the right direction in which to go beyond next week?

Photo of Mrs Judith Hart Mrs Judith Hart , Lanark

The Committee recommended that there should be a re-alignment within Departments of the present method by which Ministers receive advice in terms of long-term policy, and I think that what the hon. Gentleman recognises—because I have answered Questions on this in the House a number of times—is that many Departments are now considering their own detailed needs in the light of Fulton, but it is a little too early for a total and clear general picture to emerge.

Photo of Mr Robert Sheldon Mr Robert Sheldon , Ashton-under-Lyne

While not asking for a general picture, may I ask my right hon. Friend whether she accepts that there is room for experimentation? One is not asking for senior policy advisers to be established in every Department, but at any rate a start could be made, and will my right hon. Friend take note of that?

Photo of Mrs Judith Hart Mrs Judith Hart , Lanark

Yes, Sir. As I am sure my hon. Friend with his great knowledge of these matters knows, what happens now is that Ministers have direct access to senior officials concerned with future policy. This was a fundamental of the Fulton recommendation, but certainly I take note with great seriousness of what my hon. Friend has said.

Photo of Mr Terence Higgins Mr Terence Higgins , Worthing

In the light of the Minister's answer, is it not clear that what is happening is nothing? Is it proposed to set up senior policy advisers, or not?

Photo of Mrs Judith Hart Mrs Judith Hart , Lanark

It is not the case that nothing is happening. We are moving very rapidly on some of the Fulton recommendations. Others are bound to take more time. In relation to some of the other questions which the hon. Member for Guildford (Mr. David Howell) asked me, things are already happening. Planning units are already being set up in a number of Ministries.

Following is the list:

  • Board of Customs and Excise.
  • Ministry of Defence.
  • Department of Education and Science.
  • Department of Employment and Productivity.
  • Foreign and Commonwealth Office.
  • Board of Inland Revenue.
  • Ministry of Power.