§ 9. Mr. Sheldonasked the Minister for the Civil Service what examination he has conducted into the length of time administrative civil servants stay in one job.
§ Mrs. HartAs my hon. Friend will recall, evidence was submitted to the Fulton Committee about patterns of administrative class careers. The problem is to provide a balance of specialised knowledge with a reasonable breadth of experience. A survey of administrative work is being undertaken as a basis for decisions on the Fulton Committee's recommendations on administrative specialisation. The results should be available by the end of the year.
§ Mr. SheldonI am sure that the research carried out by my right hon. Friend will be very warmly welcomed, because one of the features of the administrative Civil Service has been the frequency with which these people have moved around and consequently been unable to acquire the specialised knowledge that is a necessary part, if only a part, of the work that they undertake.
§ Mrs. HartI welcome my hon. Friend's interest in this matter. I am sure that he is right and that this will be a most valuable survey. We shall await with interest the results of it towards the end of the year.
§ Mr. LaneFor the sake of continuity when the time comes, what special dispositions in the Civil Service are being made in readiness for possible negotiations to join the Common Market?
§ Mrs. HartThat does not arise on this Question. If we have the most efficient Civil Service, it will be able to deal with whatever contingencies are demanded of it.