Inadequate support over there, too much here?

The Daily telegraph has raised concerns about the vast army of bureaucrats in the MOD in Whitehall. As I have blogged before, there is one civil servant for every two active troops, a vast army of civil servants numbering 87,730!

In percentage terms the number of civil servants that we have represents the highest ratio of civil servants to troops in 28 Western Alliance countries. Compared with our 50%, Bulgaria is aiming for 2%, and most countries are imposing cuts.

It would seem that this group of civil servants could well be cut by 20% or even 30%, if the political parties are looking for areas in which to cut.

The MOD is assumed to be one of the best housed departments in Whitehall, and is currently going through a rebuilding and refurbishment which, with running costs will cost £2.346 billion over of 30 years, or £78 million per year. This works out as £23,600 per person per year. (In major cities outside London, the cost per person can be as low as £4,000.) Perhaps it is due to the large plasma TVs, the gymnasium, oak doors, high quality furniture and expensive paintings. Don't tell the troops, that those fighting in Whitehall are so well equipped! This all goes well with the top brass earning £200,000, and with large bonuses for senior civil servants.

The bonuses paid are for the "success" - the MOD in being over-budget and late in just about every project, or mystifyingly buying more expensive and delayed equipment which is needed urgently, and being unable to provide adequate equipment for troops risking life and limb overseas.

In the words from the "Mikado", they should be on the list, "They never would be missed".