Reform Scotland was delighted to host a discussion about the future of the Civil Service.
The past few years have opened up a national debate about whether the Civil Service north and south of the Border is fit for purpose. The partygate crisis, the Alex Salmond scandal and other controversies have raised important questions. Do we get the civil servants we need? Do we use the ones we have effectively? Are they accountable enough? How should the Civil Service change?
There is also a gap in public understanding about what civil servants do, what they are responsible for and what they are not.
Reform Scotland Director Chris Deerin discussed the role and future of the Civil Service with:
Philip Rycroft, former permanent secretary of the Department for Exiting the European Union and director-general in the Cabinet Office
Sarah Davidson, former director-general for Organisational Development and Operations at the Scottish Government, now Chief Executive of The Carnegie UK Trust.
Paul Gray, former chief executive of NHS Scotland, now Visiting Professor at the University of Glasgow
Alex Thomas, programme director at the Institute for Government.
This event was held via Zoom on Thursday 16 June.