HM Procurator-General, Treasury Solicitor and Head of the Government Legal Service, Treasury Solicitor’s Dept
What was your highlight of 2010?
Being asked by Gus to follow Bill Jeffery as the civil service diversity champion was a big highlight. It is a privilege to head the Government Legal Service, where our achievements really match up to our commitment to diversity in ways that put much of the private legal sector to shame. The opportunity to offer similar leadership to the wider civil service is something I relish.
What is the biggest opportunity that coalition policies have created for the civil service?
Let me give an example from my world. In July the prime minister announced that the coalition wanted to draw a line under the legacy, for our country, of the treatment of Guantanamo detainees with a UK connection. This included trying to settle, through mediation, the civil claims brought against the government. A cross-departmental team worked flat out to prepare for this and we did it.
A small project in the great scheme of things, but one which showed just how good civil servants are at working together with professionalism and dedication to get results. I was proud of the lawyers in my department and proud of so many colleagues across government who played their part.
What is the most challenging management task facing the civil service now?
The civil service must be significantly smaller to be fit for future purpose. We must deliver the reductions quickly and with a real understanding of the human cost involved. And then we must ensure that the civil service of the future is just as excellent as the civil service has always been. These are huge challenges but we will do it.
And what’s the key to succeeding in that task?
As diversity champion I recently spoke at the ‘a:gender’ conference. ‘A:gender’ is the civil service network that provides support and leadership for our transgendered colleagues. It is a really good example of civil servants working together to support each other and also to help inform and develop government policy. It’s an example of harnessing all that is best in the civil service and, for me, that is the key to us succeeding.
What was the best Christmas present that you’ve ever given or received? And the worst?
My partner’s family are Danish and when we’re in London they always make sure our very own Danish Christmas arrives in a wonderful box full of delicious treats just in time for Christmas Eve. As for the worst present, nothing could ever really compete with a childhood Christmas when my father gave my mother an ironing board!