The UK Civil Service - Online Library

This is a list of official publications and other interesting material on this website, together with a list of books written by civil servants describing their work.   Please do not hesitate to email Martin Stanley if you cannot find the document that you need, or if you have an interesting document which might be added to this site.

Books Written by Civil Servants which describe their work

  • 2009 - Pauline Curtis - Success at the Heart of Government - Pauline was a scientist and Senior Civil Servant who led policy teams within (what is now) the Business Department

Official Codes and Guidance

I also have a hard copy of the c.150 page Department of Energy Manual of Office Practice, published around 1980. Please email me if you would like to see it, or know more about it.

Another interesting, though dated, document is this 1992 Private Office Handbook .

Latest Statistics etc

Many of the following files are Excel spreadsheets which should download to your computer. If asked, click "Don't Update":

Parliamentary and Government Reports etc.

(CSPL = Committee on Standards in Public Life, MoD = Ministry of Defence, NAO = National Audit Office, OPSR = Office of Public Services Reform, PACAC = Public Administration and Constitutional Affairs Committee, PASC = Public Administration Select Committee, PIU = Performance and Innovation Unit)

Important Think Tank etc. Reports

(BGI = Better Government Initiative, IfG = Institute for Government, IPPR = Institute for Public Policy Research)

Better Policy Making

Several useful documents are listed on my separate Policy-Making Website

Special Advisers

(CSPL = Committee on Standards in Public Life, IfG = Institute for Government, PASC = Public Administration Select Committee)

Ministerial Directions

  • Five examples of Ministerial Directions may be found here.

Women in Whitehall

Other Material

(CARR = Centre for the Analysis of Risk and Regulation, HoC = House of Commons, NAO = National Audit Office, ONS = Office for National Statistics, PACAC = Public Administration and Constitutional Affairs Committee, PASC = Public Administration Select Committee, SRO = Senior Responsible Officer)

Previous (and superseded) Versions of Above Documents

Spotted something wrong?
Please do drop me an email if you spot anything that is out-of-date, or any other errors, typos or faulty links.