Skip to main content
Service phase: Beta

This is a new way to search our records, which we're still working on. Alternatively you can search our existing catalogue, Discovery.

Series

Treasury: Organisation and Methods Division: Registered Files (OM and 2OM Series)

Catalogue reference: T 222

What's it about?

T 222

Files of the Organisation and Methods (OM) Division. The files cover a very wide range of subjects, related to the methods of working and functions of government departments and public bodies. Subject areas include:the Committee on Departmental...

Full description and record details

Reference
T 222
Title
Treasury: Organisation and Methods Division: Registered Files (OM and 2OM Series)
Date
1923-1984
Description

Files of the Organisation and Methods (OM) Division. The files cover a very wide range of subjects, related to the methods of working and functions of government departments and public bodies. Subject areas include:

  • the Committee on Departmental Records
  • Government Organisation Committee
  • House of Commons Disqualification Bills 1955 and 1956
  • House of Commons Disqualification Act 1957.

It includes the files of the Machinery of Government Section which was incorporated in 1947.

Arrangement
Arrangement

Chronological within original subject classification (see Treasury Registration Systems)

Related material

Later machinery of government files are in BA 17

Held by
The National Archives, Kew
Former department reference
OM and 2OM file series
Legal status
Public Record(s)
Language
English
Creator(s)
Treasury, Organisation and Methods Division, 1941-1978
Physical description
1468 file(s)
Access conditions
Open unless otherwise stated
Immediate source of acquisition

From 1976 Treasury

Custodial history
Most records were transferred to the Civil Service Department in 1968, and on its abolition in 1981 to the Management and Personnel Office which from 1982 formed part of the Cabinet Office
Accumulation dates
1941 to 1960
Accruals
Series is accruing
Administrative / biographical background

The Organisation and Methods (OM) Division was set up in 1941. Its original functions were:

to conduct investigations in departments which did not have Organisation and Method sectionsto provide trained investigating staff for departmental OM sectionsto conduct extra-departmental and inter-departmental investigationsto develop standard procedures for common servicesto co-ordinate the activities of departmental OM Sectionsto approve all requisitions for office machinery and equipment.

In 1942, following a report by Mr J.Reid Young of Vickers Ltd., an Advisory Panel of Business Men was appointed, to be responsible for the general direction of the OM Division's work and to oversee the development of the departmental OM sections. The Panel maintained contact with the Permanent Secretary, and Director of Establishments in each Department. From August 1943 the panel operated as an advisory body under a Director, Mr I.J.Pitman MP.

In 1945 the Ministerial Machinery of Government Committee declared that Treasury should take responsibility for issues relating to government machinery, and a Machinery of Government Section was set up. In 1947 this Section was incorporated into the OM Division, with the Treasury taking responsibility for the allocation of functions between Departments, and for creating government machinery to increase efficiency or to meet developments of government policy.

Following the publication of the Fulton Report in June 1968, the setting up of the Civil Service Department in November 1968 saw that Department accept responsibility for all OM Assignment Reports from 1941 and Machinery of Government and Organisation and Methods files from 1963.

Record URL
https://beta.nationalarchives.gov.uk/catalogue/id/C13959/

Catalogue hierarchy

Over 27 million records

This record is held at The National Archives, Kew

325,062 records

Within the department: T

Records created or inherited by HM Treasury

You are currently looking at the series: T 222

Treasury: Organisation and Methods Division: Registered Files (OM and 2OM Series)