Page "Her Majesty's Civil Service" Paragraph 9

Lord Fulton ’ s committee reported in 1968.

He found that administrators were not professional enough, and in particular lacked management skills ; that the position of technical and scientific experts needed to be rationalised and enhanced ; and that the service was indeed too remote.

His 158 recommendations included the introduction of a unified grading system for all categories of staff, a Civil Service College and a central policy planning unit.

He also said that control of the service should be taken from the Treasury, and given to a new Department, and that the “ fast stream ” recruitment process for accessing the upper echelons should be made more flexible, to encourage candidates from less privileged backgrounds.

The new Department was set up by Prime Minister Harold Wilson's Labour Government in 1968 and named the Civil Service Department, known as CSD.

The first Minister was Cabinet Minister Lord Shackleton, also Leader of the House of Lords and Lord Privy Seal.

The first Permanent Secretary was Sir William Armstrong, who moved over from his post as Permanent Secretary at the Treasury.

After the 1970 General Election, new Conservative Prime Minister Ted Heath appointed Lord Jellicoe in Lord Shackleton's place.