Memorandum by David W Graham MBE (HON
83)
Having been honoured in the 2004 New Year Honours
List with the award of an MBE "for services to the Independent
Monitoring Board at HMP The Mount, Hertfordshire", I have
been invited to input my views to the review of the honours system.
These are my own personal views only.
I am immensely proud of the award and see it
as recognition of the work undertaken by not only myself but many
others in our prisons around the country. Without the ongoing
support of my family I could not have continued with the work
and so I see it as recognition for them too.
Whilst I have always been a supporter of the
honours system, I believe it has one main shortcoming, namely
that it is used in two entirely different ways.
Firstly, it is used as an expression of public
thanks and recognition for work undertaken by members of the general
public, usually within their local communities. In this way it
is an expression of appreciation for the often `unsung hero' who
would otherwise often go unnoticed. It usually marks a prolonged
period of public service, normally performed on a voluntary basis.
This is an excellent form of public recognition, giving the recipient,
their family and friends a unique opportunity to meet, and be
acknowledged by, a member of the Royal family. The actual investiture
is undoubtedly a very proud occasion, enjoyed by every individual
and their supporters. A comment overheard during my own investiture
and one which reflects my own feelings of the day, was "it
is so well done, it makes you proud to be British". For the
majority of recipients the award is completely unexpected and
is therefore highly valued.
However the system is also used to recognise
those within the armed forces and civil service, on a more planned
and expected basis. Recipients from both of the above
populations often know that such an award is to be made when they
achieve a specific rank or level of seniority within their professional
life. Whilst acknowledging that recognition is just as appropriate
for such individuals, I believe that the form of that recognition
should be other than that offered by the current honours system.
Within the private sector of business various forms of recognition
are regularly used to incent and reward individuals deserving
of something to recognise their additional efforts and contribution.
Actually reaching a specific rank or level of seniority within
their occupation invariably attracts improved remuneration, and
may attract further additional benefits. In other words, the effort
expended to reach a higher level and its value to an organisation
is already recognised via the remuneration package. This is exactly
the same for both the armed forces and civil service. However,
business also employs various forms of recognition and reward
for those achievements which are the result of "going the
extra mile" or "beyond the normal call of duty",
ie not the normal expectation for someone in this position, "doing
their job". Such recognition does not include promotion as
a component.
I totally support the need for members of both
the armed forces and the civil service to be recognised in a similar
way. There must be equally suitable recognition schemes for such
individuals, which would, in my opinion, be much more appropriate.
Examples of recognition I have personally experienced, or seen
used, range from hotel breaks for employee and partner, family
trips, visits to overseas conventions, study tours, vouchers to
be used for purchase of goods or holidays, or significant gifts
such as glassware or silverware.
Without the adoption of such a system I believe
that there will be a continuing public perception that the honours
system is somewhat diluted by using it in this inappropriate way
for a specific sector of society. Comments are often heard that
awards go to individuals who have "just done their job".
It should be acknowledged that these jobs may well be amongst
the more important, carrying significant levels of responsibility.
Nevertheless such factors are used to determine
levels of remuneration and overall benefits packages. However
I wish to clarify that it is important for members of the armed
forces and civil service not to be excluded from the honours system
if they are seen to be deserving in their own right, as they may
be undertaking similar activities to members of the general public.
Their profession should not act as a bar to their being considered
in the same way as others, but this would be a change from the
current system.
In summary, I would like to see the honours
system used consistently as a special expression of public thanks
and recognition for work undertaken by members of the general
public, which is not recognised in any other way.
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