UNITED KINGDOM
The latest ranking of international Public Services has put the UK in first place.
This is despite Whitehall coming under sustained criticism from politicians during the long-running saga over the UK leaving the European Union (Brexit).
Oxford University’s Blavatnik School of Government and the Institute for Government’s International Civil Service Effectiveness Index (InCiSE) draw together a series of data and performance indicators for a host of Government administrative functions to create a league table.
When the inaugural ranking was published in 2017, the UK trailed Canada, New Zealand and Australia on metrics that included performance in tax administration, inclusiveness, capability, openness, integrity, risk management, fiscal and financial management, digital service and policymaking.
The survey’s second instalment has the UK in first place followed by New Zealand and Canada, with Finland fourth and Australia in fifth place.
Although they are ranked differently, the top five nations remain the same as in 2017.
While the UK’s rankings rise will be flagged as evidence of Whitehall’s ability to drive improvement at the same time as dealing with the unprecedented demands of Brexit, the 2019 InCiSE is not all comfortable reading for top officials.
Although the report’s authors confirm that the UK performs “relatively highly for most indicators”, regulation is the only core function where Whitehall is top of all surveyed nations.
The UK is in the top five country rankings for policymaking, fiscal and financial management, HR management and procurement.
However, digital services is an area where it performs below average, ranking in the bottom third of surveyed nations.
Estonia tops the 2019 digital category, as it did in 2017.
Cabinet Secretary and head of the UK Public Service, Sir Mark Sedwill ( pictured) said there was much to applaud in the findings, but accepted there was no cause for complacency about areas for improvement.
“We can be even better by spreading our own best practice and by learning from other countries in areas where they are ahead,” Sir Mark said.
“We will make that our common endeavour.”
After the top five, Denmark finished sixth, Norway seventh, the Netherlands eighth, South Korea ninth and Sweden tenth.
Hungary was the lowest-ranked of the 38 nations surveyed.
London, 28 April 2019
