[MovedGoalPosts]

Problem with the civil service, is not necessarily over or even undermanning, although it's probably like any larger organisation bloated with pen pushers justifying an existence. It's the time bomb of the pensions which remain index linked, final salary type schemes, whcih virtually all private indsutry had to abandon a long while ago. If the fat isn't trimmed soon, even if pensions are reformed (any government taking on the civil service unions on that will be more than brave), the country won't be able to afford the civil service pensions, let alone basic pensions for all.