Central government departments miss 60% of 2005-08 targets

The UK ranks 16th out of 30 OECD countries on central government management and policy implementation, a report published today has revealed.

The State of the Service report, compiled using Freedom of Information data, staff surveys and Whitehall performance reviews, shows that the UK is far behind the Scandinavian countries.

Just 40% of Whitehall public services targets set for 2005-08 have been met, the research, reported in The Times, showed.

The Department for Children, Schools and Families scored the highest on management, while the lowest performers were the Department for Transport and the former Department for Innovation, Universities and Skills (now Department for Business, Innovation & Skills – BIS).

Conservative leader David Cameron pledged to introduce a leaner, more effective government if his party wins the general election, including introducing greater powers to penalise senior staff who fail to deliver.