Focus on Policy Implementation, Consumer Service and Marketisation: Civil Service Reform in the Major Government (1990–1997)

Abstract

This chapter argues how John Major’s government continued Thatcher’s reforming spirit with regard to the Civil Service. Executive agencies were implemented and the Next Steps programme completed, privatisations and contracting out were widened to local public services, the Civil Service’s manpower reduced, and a new system of recruiting sought to achieve more flexibility and open the Civil Service to outsiders. In 1992, the Private Finance Initiative (PFI) was introduced to bring the private sector into large public sector capital spending projects. Further government initiatives included the Citizen’s Charter which aimed to improve public services by empowering the service user, setting out standards and providing arrangements for compensation when standards were not met. An Office of Public Service and Science was established in 1992 to oversee implementation of the Charter policy across government, and the government’s Charter Mark initiative recognised excellence in providers of public services.