Administrative Affairs

The petition is entitled Establish a dedicated government department aimed at improving the efficiency of the government machine. The Minister for Administrative Affairs be a cabinet level figure to ensure concern with good governance is shared at the highest level and the explanatory notes say

"There is a pressing need to improve efficiency at the highest level of government. This department would create a dedicated team, led by high calibre civil servants with a nose for detail, who could seek out maladministration and nip it in the bud. This dynamic hub of activity should be seperate to the Cabinet Office and number 10, being it's own fully fledged department."

I do hope the civil servant who let this through in spite of the clear position from the EPetitions site that "We decided it was impossible to justify this use of Civil Service time, or to come up with clear guidelines as to what amounts to good or bad taste. Reluctantly therefore we have decided no longer to accept petitions which are obviously intended as jokes."

For the benefit of any hopelessly naive teenagers who happen to be reading in bewilderment (hello, Will), I suggest a brief perusal of Wikipedia's page on Yes Minister, followed by perhaps a chat with your parents and, if at all possible, some watching of the show or reading of the books.