CMI's response to the Queen's speech

26 May 2010

The Chartered Management Institute (CMI) has warmly welcomed a number of announcements in the Queen's Speech, including steps to increase flexible working and encourage equal pay, stop the planned NIC increase and improve accountability in the NHS.

Petra Wilton, CMI's director of policy and research, said: "The decision to extending flexible working to all is to be applauded. CMI's members have long supported an extension of the existing rights for parents and carers. New measures to promote equal pay are also welcome, when our National Management Salary Survey shows that women are still being paid less than men."

CMI also welcomes the National Insurance Contributions Bill, which will stop the proposed rise in National Insurance Contributions. "The move to scrap this tax on jobs was supported by over two thirds of managers in CMI's latest Economic Outlook survey*. But even more managers, 81 per cent, would back tax breaks for employers who invest in skills. If the Government is serious about closing our management skills gap and boosting growth, it should include such an incentive in the Emergency Budget next month."

The Health Bill, intended to make the NHS more accountable, has also been welcomed by CMI. Petra Wilton comments: "there is an urgent need to tackle the problems of poor leadership which have blighted some parts of the NHS. Greater transparency and accountability is a core part of our Manifesto for a Better Managed Britain, so we welcome this move.

"However, the other side of the coin has to be a commitment to improving skills. Increased accountability must be supported by improved training for those that manage hospitals. The debate cannot simply be about how many managers the NHS employs but has to focus on whether they have the right skills. Having high-quality managers is what allows frontline staff to focus more on what they do best – in the case of the NHS, on treating patients.

"We're calling on the NHS to ensure that all management staff possess adequate professional qualifications and, where appropriate, to put a rigorous programme of professional development in place to ensure any gaps in skills at management level are addressed."

*The Spring 2010 Economic Outlook is available at www.managers.org.uk/outlook.