Chapman R A
Public Money & Management, (UK), Jan-Mar 98 Vol 18 No 1
Start page: 9 No of pages: 5
Reflects on the nature of ethics in public service; considers the essence of decisions, constraints on these and pressures from outside of and within the administrative system; looks at the implications of the system of government and its constitution for ethics. 

The National Audit Office has listed how the Inland Revenue has gripped staff
corruption, committing substantial time and resources, following the conviction
of a senior tax inspector.
Michael Allcock was convicted in 1997 and imprisoned for five years on six
counts of corruption. Five other staff were disciplined, including demotion
for three. 

There’s been criticism of the Department of Health’s guidance on the
composition of Primary Care Groups.
The Local Government Association says the guidance does not go fare enough
towards securing, by right, more influence for local councils and councillors.
The LGA says the new PCG boards must have adequate local government
representation if the government’s health agenda is not to be undermined. 

Belman D, Gunderson M, Hyatt D (Eds)
Studies public sector employment and offers two suggestions for future directions in the rapidly changing system: one emphasizes improving the efficiency of government through innovative practices and a movement away from the bureaucratic, civil service model, while the other stresses cost cutting as an end in itself.