Poynter delivers 'world class' report
There'll be much more to say about Kieran Poynter's report into the data failures at HM Revenue & Customs, but my initial thoughts were weighed down by one heart-sinking choice of phrase:
I am pleased to report that all the HMRC officials I have met, from Dave Hartnett the acting Chairman down, have been cooperative. He has expressed his determination to learn from these events and create the world class data security environment you would expect in HMRC.
Is there a worse phrase in the world than 'world class'. It is world class nonsense.
Beloved of New Labour politicians (Ed Balls is especially fond), it is more importantly not a very useful term in this context.
What do we mean by world class? As far as I remember the term is more often used in football (as in 'Brazil have world class players'). It means they are some of the best in the world.
What we need with the taxman's data system is not something that is the best in the world, just something that actually does a basic job. Let's not pretend this is like writing a symphony or scoring the winning goal in the World Cup Final. We don't need the Ronaldinho of data security, we just need some basic controls and enough money to do the job without leaving us open to fraudsters.
The same, incidentally, goes for all the other silly times the word is used in relation to public services. Lets stick to the basics and worry about the 'world class' stuff later.
Useless (adult jokes) there are four women together in a fury about her husband's sexuality. This woman's husband, the four occupations, namely the delivery of leaflets, selling milk, building administrators, and ice cream shop owner. Sent fliers to his wife: "My husband is like sending leaflets, like a plug and leave it casually." Selling milk's wife went on to say: "You okay then! My hole in the same like the milkman, only on the the door and then left. "administrator's wife, said:" Oh! my family was like the devil like a management fee revenue, came only once a month. "ice cream shop owner's wife, said:" You do not have my misery, my home that is just good-looking , click on the melting of the ... ... "
Posted by :Anonymous | December 13, 2009 10:14 AM