Yes minister

Daniel Finkelstein makes the case in the Times today for Special Advisors. He may have a point but why do we always in this country develop complicated and probably unsatisfactory solutions instead of going to the heart of the problem.

The problem surely is that the executive heads of government departments are permanent secretaries - a wonderful idea in its time when continuity of management was desirable, but outmoded in a fast-changing world.

The answer is to change the executive head when a new government or minister comes in. There are hundreds of competent, experienced men and women out there who could fill that civil service role and who could also be chosen as someone who was in tune with the Minister's thinking. Thus change would have a fairer chance of being properly implemented as opposed to the present chaotic situation where Ministers battle with (and often lose to) their Sir Humphreys. We would more likely avoid half-baked schemes if the executive arm of government departments were committed to proper implementation.

And no need for the Damien McBrides either.