Discussion

MR R. F. HUGHES, Paper 1 A number of things have happened since I wrote my brief

contribution which relate to the career development of civil

servants. In its response in July 1986 to the seventh report of the Treasury and Civil Service Committee on civil servants and ministers: duties and responsibilities, the Government reaffirmed the position of civil servants more or less as I described. It also stated that it saw its response as a contribution to a continuing discussion, not a last word in the argument.

The open structure now extends from grade 7 upwards with posts at grade 3 and above now known as the senior open structure. The senior management development programme (SMDP) has now been introduced for grade 7 to grade 4 which involves the planning of participants' training and wider development around a set of competencies. These reflect the main types of skill and experience relevant to performance of the normal duties of the participant and those required to prepare them for posts in the senior open structure.