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Article: Ministers and the Civil Service in 1997.
- Article from:
- Contemporary Review
- Article date:
- May 1, 1997
- Author:
CopyrightCOPYRIGHT 1997 Contemporary Review Company Ltd. This material is published under license from the publisher through the Gale Group, Farmington Hills, Michigan. All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Gale Group. (Hide copyright information)
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When a new or re-elected Government takes office this month, it expects to find a fully operational and smoothly running machine awaiting it. Indeed the Civil Service puts effort into making a good first impression; the moment a new Minister puts down the phone after the fateful call from Downing Street, he has only to look out of his front-room window and there, as if by magic, is a car with a driver, and a young-ish man or woman who will introduce him-or herself with some such words as `Good morning, Minister: I am temporarily your private secretary. Until you make a new appointment, may I take you to the office and introduce you to the principal officials?' At the ...