Does the civil service play a crucial role in policy making?


	Does the civil service play a crucial role in policy making?
	Advantages (YES) Senior civil servants hold the key roles in govt departments,which often develop their own policy ethos. Civil servants have expertise, resources and relationships wth outside groups that are not available to ministers and special advisors Civil servants shape govt policy by defining which options are workable and affordable. Civil servants are key actors in policy implementation, which is critical to the success of a policy.	Disadvantages (NO) Ministers increasingly turn to SpAds, appointed from outside of Whitehall, for policy advice. Senior civil servants spend more time of departmental management, and seven out of ten civil servants work in operational delivery. The coalition govt aimed to obtain more policy advice from outside the civil service. Ministers are accountable for policy decisions, but not for operational ones.
	Evaluation

(YES)
Senior civil servants hold the key roles in govt departments,which often develop their own policy ethos.
Civil servants have expertise, resources and relationships wth outside groups that are not available to ministers and special advisors
Civil servants shape govt policy by defining which options are workable and affordable.
Civil servants are key actors in policy implementation, which is critical to the success of a policy.

(NO)
Ministers increasingly turn to SpAds, appointed from outside of Whitehall, for policy advice.
Senior civil servants spend more time of departmental management, and seven out of ten civil servants work in operational delivery.
The coalition govt aimed to obtain more policy advice from outside the civil service.
Ministers are accountable for policy decisions, but not for operational ones.

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