May 19, 2009
Guru notes with a heavy heart of HR's central role in the MPs expenses scandal.
The parliamentary Fees Office, which rubber stamps expenses claims and provides advice on what might be acceptable to claim for (plasma TVs, furniture, moats, etc) is headed up by civil servant Andrew Walker.
Mr Walker earns £125,000-per-year as finance and admin director at the Commons - twice as much as most MPs. He also used to be HR director at the Inland Revenue, which no doubt gave him valuable experience in handling complex tax and monetary issues.
He got the job at Parliament without any background in financial administration. His degree was in ancient Eastern studies, according to the Telegraph.
According to records in Hansard, Walker was due to complete an accountancy qualification last year, and until that point was being assisted by "appropriately qualified and experienced staff" in the office.
Guru reckons this could be another example of HR failing to crunch the numbers.
The parliamentary Fees Office, which rubber stamps expenses claims and provides advice on what might be acceptable to claim for (plasma TVs, furniture, moats, etc) is headed up by civil servant Andrew Walker.
Mr Walker earns £125,000-per-year as finance and admin director at the Commons - twice as much as most MPs. He also used to be HR director at the Inland Revenue, which no doubt gave him valuable experience in handling complex tax and monetary issues.
He got the job at Parliament without any background in financial administration. His degree was in ancient Eastern studies, according to the Telegraph.
According to records in Hansard, Walker was due to complete an accountancy qualification last year, and until that point was being assisted by "appropriately qualified and experienced staff" in the office.
Guru reckons this could be another example of HR failing to crunch the numbers.
In an article for the Guardian by Freedom of Information campaigner Heather Brooke, she writes about her battle to expose MPs expenses claims and has some strong words about Walker, likening him to Eric Morecambe.
She recalls the information tribunal when Walker was giving evidence, and some of the answers he gave. "Transparency will damage democracy," is Guru's favourite.
How heartening it is to know that one of HR's own really believes this. Perhaps the CIPD should get him along to speak at its annual conference.
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