scrubbedexpat142

I have no brief for politicians (least of all IDS) but let's not kid ourselves that civil service performance is all that it should be.

BristolUK

You get what you (don't) pay for.

Shard

It's hard to understand why Universal Credit has been so difficult to implement. They've thrown a lot of money and time at it. Doesn't Canada already have a UC type system?

scrubbedexpat142

UK civil service modus operandi -

"We don't like it so we'll make sure it doesn't work.

We don't like the proposer so we'll make sure it doesn't work.

We aren't paid enough so we'll make sure it doesn't work.

There will be further opportunities for us if it doesn't work, so...

We don't want to set a precedent by making it work.

We don't think it will work and don't want the blame.

We can drag this out until we get our pensions."

​​​​​

And so on.

BristolUK

Or you could just ignore that people with expertise advise you that it doesn't work, pointing to the same thing being said previously but you went ahead and did it anyway and then replaced that non-working scheme with another scheme you were advised was also a bad idea but you went ahead with that anyway and so on.

And I'm not talking about implementation that some seem to think civil servants can obstruct like in some outdated fictional sitcom, I'm talking the effect of the schemes.
DSS break up and formation of Contributions Agency; Child Support Agency; HMRC failing to run means tested benefits because they're not used to it; the failed Income Support system and failed JSA that replaced a decent Supplementary Benefit system, hence UC; The failed Social Fund loans system etc etc

All the submissions from interested and appropriate organisations - NOT civil servants - saying bad idea, won't work, will create problems and all proven right every step of the way hence abolishing the new agencies set up and bringing in new systems...rinse and repeat.

But blame the civil service instead and the government get off scot-free.

Souvy

It's no different here. A classic example is the failed Phoenix pay system for public servants.It was initiated by he Conservative government and kicked-in under the new Liberal government. It's a disaster. Many believe that it was designed to fail.

scrubbedexpat142

The Govt. is subject to elections, the civil service is not.

BristolUK

That sounds as if you're suggesting that civil servants are responsible for deliberately introducing a system that doesn't pay their wages.

BristolUK

Phew...well that's alright then.

Remind me, when did did anything to do with social security, family credit or child maintenance ever have anything to do with government losing an election?

scrubbedexpat142

Ask the voters but don't bother asking the civil service because it's never anything to do with them.

Oh & look at the effect "austerity" is having on the electorate.

Shard

No good answers here. Benefits systems are complex, but we are first world countries with incredible computer expertise and high government budgets. I don't buy the internal sabotage explanation. I just really wonder why it can't be solved.

BristolUK

Esther McVey misled MPs over universal credit, says watchdog
Head of National Audit Office says the welfare secretary misinterpreted its report

• McVey should not have claimed universal credit was being rolled out too slowly when the NAO had said the DWPshould ensure it was working properly before transferring any more people on to it from previous benefits, she was told.
• She should not have said universal credit was working
• She should not have claimed the report had not taken into account recent improvements in welfare, when it was signed off days earlier by her department

Never mind all that though, it's all the fault of the civil servants.

scrubbedexpat142

The policy, no. The implementation, undoubtedly.

BristolUK

Full implementation not recommended.

BristolUK

The man who is fervent about feeding hungry kids, but hates food banks