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'Pace and passion' at Home Office 'Pace and passion' at Home Office
(40 minutes later)
Home Office ministers and officials have agreed to "exude pace and passion" as they work to end "weak" performance.Home Office ministers and officials have agreed to "exude pace and passion" as they work to end "weak" performance.
A one-page agreement between civil servants and their bosses sets out their separate responsibilities as they "work together".A one-page agreement between civil servants and their bosses sets out their separate responsibilities as they "work together".
It says the heads of operational services are responsible for "increasingly answering externally for operational matters".It says the heads of operational services are responsible for "increasingly answering externally for operational matters".
The Lib Dems said it "sounded like a grubby and one-sided deal".The Lib Dems said it "sounded like a grubby and one-sided deal".
The Home Office has suffered several controversies recently.The Home Office has suffered several controversies recently.
Home Secretary John Reid has said he would take two and a half years to turn around the department, which he has run since May 2006 when Charles Clarke was axed during a row over foreign prisoners.Home Secretary John Reid has said he would take two and a half years to turn around the department, which he has run since May 2006 when Charles Clarke was axed during a row over foreign prisoners.
He has also suggested the department be split in two.He has also suggested the department be split in two.
The Compact Between Ministers and the Home Office Board sees both parties agree to "ensure decisions are taken at the right level". The "Compact Between Ministers and the Home Office Board" sees both parties agree to "ensure decisions are taken at the right level".
WeaknessesWeaknesses
Officials' responsibilities also include making sure that "accountabilities are clear, always knowing which individual is responsible for which decision and area of work and tackling weak performance".Officials' responsibilities also include making sure that "accountabilities are clear, always knowing which individual is responsible for which decision and area of work and tackling weak performance".
Ministers will "focus on policy and outcomes knowing that weakness, in relation to both processes or individual performance, will be tackled effectively".Ministers will "focus on policy and outcomes knowing that weakness, in relation to both processes or individual performance, will be tackled effectively".
Officials are reminded to "understand the political and wider context in which we work".Officials are reminded to "understand the political and wider context in which we work".
In return, ministers will "support the need for officials to make operational judgements, with the expectation that they will be kept informed of matters which potentially have a strategic or reputational risk or impact".In return, ministers will "support the need for officials to make operational judgements, with the expectation that they will be kept informed of matters which potentially have a strategic or reputational risk or impact".
Liberal Democrat home affairs spokesman Nick Clegg said the agreement "sounded like a grubby and one-sided deal to cover the backs of government ministers".Liberal Democrat home affairs spokesman Nick Clegg said the agreement "sounded like a grubby and one-sided deal to cover the backs of government ministers".
'Passing the buck'
He called for "any meaningful deal" to be "based on an undertaking from ministers that they will put competence before spin and the public interest before their own public image".He called for "any meaningful deal" to be "based on an undertaking from ministers that they will put competence before spin and the public interest before their own public image".
Shadow home secretary David Davis said: "At a time when the Home Office is crying out for decisive leadership from ministers, it is a bit rich for them to pass the buck and blame civil servants for their failures."
The compact is posted on the Home Office website, along with an outline of changes made at the department since July 2006.The compact is posted on the Home Office website, along with an outline of changes made at the department since July 2006.
It said staff at its headquarters had been reduced by 285 as part of a plan to focus more on regional offices.It said staff at its headquarters had been reduced by 285 as part of a plan to focus more on regional offices.
'Deep-rooted problems'
At the top of the department, there have been three changes to its board, and 10 directors have left the department to be "replaced with newcomers from a variety of backgrounds, some from business and others from the public sector".At the top of the department, there have been three changes to its board, and 10 directors have left the department to be "replaced with newcomers from a variety of backgrounds, some from business and others from the public sector".
It warned that further weaknesses would be revealed as they solve "deep-rooted problems".It warned that further weaknesses would be revealed as they solve "deep-rooted problems".
"What matters then is how you deal with them. For our part, we intend to fix them.""What matters then is how you deal with them. For our part, we intend to fix them."
In January, the Association of Chief Police Officers revealed that the details of 27,529 cases of Britons who had been convicted of offences abroad - including 25 convictions of rape - had been left on files at the Home Office instead of being entered on the Police National Computer.In January, the Association of Chief Police Officers revealed that the details of 27,529 cases of Britons who had been convicted of offences abroad - including 25 convictions of rape - had been left on files at the Home Office instead of being entered on the Police National Computer.
Liberal Democrat home affairs spokesman Nick Clegg described the agreement as "sounding like a grubby and one-sided deal to cover the backs of government ministers".
He called for "any meaningful deal" to be "based on an undertaking from ministers that they will put competence before spin and the public interest before their own public image".