The Reorganisation of British Central Government

The White Paper, Cmnd 4506, published in 1970 on the 'Reorganisation of Central Government' declared an intention to create a 'new style' of government. This book examines the implementation of this goal through case-studies of the Department of the Environment and the Department of Trade and Industry, the flagships of the new style. These case-studies involved major interviews with civil servants and ministers of the period. The book argues that the traditional style of British government, centred on the issue of accountability to Parliament with the ministerial department as the main administrative form in central government, inhibited the process of reform and prevented the development of a new style. The author also considers changes under the Thatcher government and asks whether the experiences of the 1970s can provide an insight into the possible success of present day reforms.