Lib Dem Home Office Minister in the previous coalition government, Norman Baker, shares an anecdote about his time in office – previous anecdotes in this article covering his use of a bicycle and attempt to start a recycling scheme are equally dispiriting:
“My first taste of government — as a junior minister at Transport — provided some real Yes Minister delights. Among my responsibilities were the internal affairs of the department itself and in January 2011, I felt obliged to write to the permanent secretary to ask for action on two connected fronts: the building’s air conditioning system and staff access to window keys.
They were connected because the air conditioning didn’t work efficiently, creating a temperature that was either chilled or stifling, and the ability to open windows was the only real way to affect this.
The position was most acute after 5.30pm, when the air conditioning promptly cut out, despite the fact that there were often large numbers of officials and ministers still working. In response, I was given an assurance that the air conditioning was working in optimum fashion, which it clearly was not, but that it would be looked at afresh at some unspecified point in the future.
I decided to concentrate on the windows.
After weeks of prevarication and inaction, exasperated, I demanded a note as to why keys could not be distributed. It is worth quoting at some length the reply I received from the unfortunate civil servant deputed to deal with this crucial matter.
They were determined not to give me a key and piled reason upon reason:
‘As a result of low window sills staff could fall out of the open window if someone was to trip over an obstacle or absent-mindedly leaned against what they thought was a closed window . . . the more windows are open, the bigger the risk.
‘A significant number of staff use the window sills for storage, and such items could be knocked out of an open window and fall onto passers-by below, with possibly serious consequences.
‘There have been some instances in the past two years of people firing air guns from the flats behind the building . . . open windows could allow staff to be targets.
‘Continually opening and closing the windows can weaken the locks which are 15 years old and could allow the windows to open unexpectedly (this has happened at least once).
‘At the moment, the windows can only be opened and closed by security staff. Providing staff with keys could lead to a security breach. [On the sixth floor?!]
‘There can sometimes be strong draughts through the windows, especially on the higher floors, which can blow papers around.
‘To agree to open a window for one person immediately sets a precedent for others who may not find the air conditioning to their liking, so we could end up with windows being opened across the building.’
Presumably because the air conditioning wasn’t working properly. Faced with this barrage of guff, I decided to take a practical and pragmatic approach. Jo Guthrie, the excellent private secretary who ran my office, ran out to a buy a window key from a hardware shop.
I was finding it easier to squeeze millions out of the Treasury than to get simple changes enacted within my own Government department.”
East Devon Watch 