Evening star., 1955-07-03
BY GEORGE W. OAKEs


LONDON.-The Hoover Commits
sion's recommendation for o senior
civil service, II adopted, could alter
the structure and standing Of the
entire Federal civil service. This
proposal was perhaps the most far
reaching Of all that the commits
sion suggested last February. Since
1t was apparently derived from the
workings Of the British civil serv-
ice, questions about this world
famous organization come to mind.
Often Americans have cast their
eyes to the green fields Of British
experience and performance in the
civil service. How did the British
civil service develop, and how does
it function. particularly in relation
to this proposal for United States
senior civil service7
The History
The first point to be understood
Is that the British have not had
contrary to our folklore high
caliber civil service system for
centuries. Unlike other elements of
British government, this is q recent
development. Nineteen hundred
and ffty-four was considered its
Tooth anniversary-the centenary
Of the Northcote- -Trevelyan report.
During the first half of the 18th
century the old spoils sys-
tenn of crown employment became
increasingly scrutinized by Parlia-
ment under pressure Of q REFORM
ing public opinion. The chief re-
suits Of the Northcote- -Trevelyan
proposals Of 1854 were the division
OF the civil service into intellec-
tual and mechanical labor as well
as recruitment by competitive ex-
animation. The next big change
in the organization occurred after
World War I. when four main
grades were established: Subcleri-
cal. clerical. executive and admin.
istrative. At this time the COM
petitive exam for this administrative
class as a supplement to the writ
ten examination was also adopted.
The alterations after World War
II were largely those of size. In
1899 the service included 387 900
ofIice workers dncluding the post
ONCE employes), compared with
635.000 today. OF this number,
nearly 100000 are in the lower or
clerical grades (including 250,O0O
in the post office), 145, 900 in the
executive or professional grades,
and only 2.687 in the top or admin
istrative class.
The Administrators
What, in fact, is this administra-
tive class-which controls and
directs the whole British civil serv-
ice? Specifically what is the scope
OF its activities, how democratic is
1t. does 1t still attract the ablest
men? What is its reputation in
England today and what are its
problems?
The members Of the permanent
administrative class are the policy
advisers and the top general man
ayers Of the various British govern
ment departments. Excluding the
Foreign Service, which, like ours, is
o separate organization, the small
size OF this British senior civil serv-
ice can be judged by the fact that
there are only 90 in the Ministry
OF Health, supervising the vast
national health and insurance pro-
grams, and 166 in the Ministry Of
Transport and Civil Aviation that
includes the national railways as
one of its major policy response
bilities.
One of the chief reasons why
the administrative class is so
powerful and attracts such OUT
standing people is that these career
men occupy positions at the highest
level Of all the government depart
mepts. The normal department 10
headed by q Enthusiastically q
member Of the cabinet and, Of
course. a member Of the House Of
Commons. He has one political as
slstant or deputy, also an MP and
generally known as the parliament
tary secretary. In some depart
ments there are two Junior min
listers A parliamentary private
secretary acts as q special aide
to the minister to assist him in
handling parliamentary queries
and contacts with its members.
Then comes the top civil servant
Of the administrative class--the
permanent secretary of the de-
pertinent. There are no special as
sistants or personal appointees of
the minister even In his own Of
| fice--no special stan a. oftet exists