Public Services Reductions 2022-10-27
2022-10-27
TAGS
Response quality
Questions & Answers
Q1
Partial Answer
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Context
The question arises from the government's objective to reduce the number of civil servants by 91,000. This reduction is expected to affect various public services.
Whether the Government plans to make reductions to public services to meet its objective to reduce the number of civil servants by 91,000. The questioner noted that such job losses risk even longer backlogs for services like issuing passports and driving licences—systems already in chaos—and they will not deliver savings to taxpayers.
In recent years, the civil service has delivered in the face of unprecedented challenges. This Government are focused on improving efficiency and reducing the cost of public service delivery. The Government are totally committed to delivering high-quality public services as effectively and efficiently as possible.
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Assessment & feedback
The questioner's specific concern about job losses causing service backlogs was not directly addressed; the response focused on general efficiency improvements without providing specifics.
Focused On Improving Efficiency
Without Addressing Service Impacts
Response accuracy
Q2
Partial Answer
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Context
The question follows a study showing that such proposals could drain £3 billion annually from the UK economy and result in 118,000 private sector jobs loss. Civil servants feel overworked and underpaid.
A new study by economists shows that these plans could drain £3 billion annually from the UK economy and result in 118,000 private sector job losses. Given civil servants feeling increasingly overworked and underpaid, should not the Minister drop these proposals?
I am sure the hon. Gentleman recognises that given what is going on in the world at the moment and pressures on household incomes, people want high-quality public services delivered as effectively and efficiently as possible. There are innovations such as digital networks and AI to support strong delivery of public services which should not be ignored.
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Assessment & feedback
The questioner's specific concern about economic impacts was not directly addressed; the response focused on potential efficiencies without providing specifics.
Focused On Delivering High-Quality Public Services
Mentioned Innovations But No Concrete Plans
Response accuracy
Q3
Partial Answer
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Context
Stories emerged in the summer about downgrading the fast-track process for recruiting civil servants. The questioner questions whether this is a change from previous policy.
There were stories about downgrading the fast-track process for recruiting civil servants in the summer. Is this Government policy or have they had any thoughts on it, considering how well the system has served us over many years?
The Government are committed to ensuring a path into the civil service for high-quality individuals. We need really good, high-quality public servants. I spoke earlier about apprenticeships and mentioned an important point regarding fast track. There will be routes into the civil service for high-quality public servants.
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Assessment & feedback
The questioner's specific concern about downgrading the fast-track process was not directly addressed; the response focused on general commitments to quality without providing specifics.
Focused On Recruiting High-Quality Civil Servants
Mentioned Apprenticeships But No Concrete Plans
Response accuracy