Damian McBride questioned on the Future of the Civil Service

• Parliament TV: Future of Civil Service
• Inquiry: Future of Civil Service
• Public Administration Select Committee

The Committee will first take evidence on the operation of the Civil Service from Damian McBride, served as a special adviser to the Rt Hon Gordon Brown, as Chancellor of the Exchequer between 2005 and 2007, and then as Prime Minister between 2007 and 2009. Prior to becoming a special adviser, Mr McBride had been a civil servant at HM Revenue and Customs since 1996, and at HM Treasury, where he was appointed as Head of Communications in 2003. He is now Head of Communications at CAFOD, the official overseas development and relief agency of the Catholic Church in England and Wales.

In the second half of the session, the Committee will hear from Carolyn Downs, Chief Executive of the Local Government Association, and Derrick Anderson, Chief Executive of Lambeth Council, on the lessons the Civil Service can take from local government and the balance of power between Whitehall and local authorities.

Particular issues to be explored may include:

• The relationship between No. 10 and the rest of the Civil Service;
• ministerial concerns about Civil Service competence;
• how local authorities work with Whitehall departments; and
• how change programmes are managed in local government.

Witnesses

At 9.30am, Wednesday 27 February 2013, Committee Room 16, Palace of Westminster

• Damian McBride, Former special adviser to the Rt Hon Gordon Brown MP

At 10.30am, Wednesday 27 February 2013, Committee Room 16, Palace of Westminster

• Derrick Anderson, Chief Executive of Lambeth Council
• Carolyn Downs, Chief Executive of the Local Government Association

Further information

• About Parliament: Select Committees
• Visiting Parliament: Watch Committees