Civil servants avoid the blame, as ever

Article Abstract:

The UK government's inquiry into the BSE scandal will carefully avoid attributing blame, especially in the case of civil servants. The fact that issues relating to BSE were handled by five different government departments in the period between the mid-1980s and the mid-1990s will also make it hard to apportion responsibility. However, the inquiry is being held in a climate of openness, with its deliberations being made available on a dedicated web page. It is to be hoped that this will encourage some senior civil servants from that period to take some of the blame.

Animal Slaughtering and Processing, Meat Products, Beef, Investigations, Bovine spongiform encephalopathy

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Passing the buck can be fatal

Article Abstract:

It has been revealed recently that UK government officials failed to reveal to ministers than toxic pesticides were sprayed over the tents of British troops during th Gulf war. Furthermore, officials also failed to inform ministers about poor hygiene standards in abattoirs. It is difficult to assess whether civil servants really did keep ministers in ignorance, or whether ministers are trying to avoid responsibility for situations which could have caused deaths. Whatever the truth, it is vital that stricter rules of ministerial responsibility are introduced.

Powers and duties, Cabinet officers, Cabinet officials

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Farewell to Mr Major's world, where chaps never resign

Article Abstract:

Former UK Prime Minister John Major came from a political environment in which people did not resign, even if they had made serious errors of judgement. This is why he has criticized the Select Committee report on the Royal Opera House, especially its call for the resignation of Lord Chadlington, Royal Opera House Chairman. He fails to realize that the link between office and responsibility has now been re-established, and that public figures who are associated with gross incompetence must be prepared to resign.

Management, Beliefs, opinions and attitudes, Royal Opera House (building), Major, John

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