The Skeleton in the Cupboard (Yes Minister)
Encyclopedia
"The Skeleton in the Cupboard" is the seventeenth episode of the BBC
comedy series Yes Minister
and was first broadcast 25 November 1982.
is chairing a meeting of his senior officials. One item on the agenda is the disciplinary action to be taken against the South Derbyshire
local authority for failing to complete its statutory returns and supply required information. Sir Humphrey Appleby
regards this as a serious matter. Around the table, several examples of "incompetence" are given and the Minister
wishes to know of any "redeeming features". One of the officials, Dr Cartwright, attempts to interject but Sir Humphrey is quick to stop him. After the meeting, the Permanent Secretary
is equally speedy at steering Dr Cartwright out of Hacker's office and the Minister confesses to Bernard
, his Principal Private Secretary
, that he smells a rat. He decides to "drop in" on Dr Cartwright. Bernard seeks to dissuade him as Sir Humphrey disapproves of ministers "going walkabout". Hacker ignores this advice and goes anyway. Bernard is duty bound to inform Sir Humphrey's office, and it is a mere ten seconds before the mandarin strides in to demand an explanation. He is disturbed that Hacker is "loose in the building" and wishes to know to where he is. Bernard is reluctant to betray a confidence but Sir Humphrey, not for the first time, uses his subordinate's civil service
career prospects as leverage — forcing Bernard to name Dr Cartwright as a hypothetical example of someone whom the Minister may wish to visit.
Meanwhile, Hacker has sought out Dr Cartwright and is receiving some startling facts about South Derbyshire. It is the most efficient council
in the UK
, and the Minister is supposed to be reprimanding it for being the worst. Cartwright gives him some examples of its economies — but then Sir Humphrey bursts in. He cross-examines the Minister over his being there but Hacker is unable to give a convincing excuse. Sir Humphrey requests an immediate meeting with him back upstairs, and Hacker has little option but to comply.
In his office, Hacker is confronted by his Permanent Secretary who is incensed that the Minister has been speaking to others in the department: he may learn things that are not to be learned. He states that every conversation should be minuted for the sake of future generations. Bernard enters to remind the Minister of an imminent appointment with a journalist but Hacker invites him to stay so he can minute the ensuing discussion between him and Sir Humphrey. They end it at loggerheads, with Hacker refusing to discipline South Derbyshire and Sir Humphrey telling him that he has no choice as it is the law and other, more powerful departments, want to see it occur. Sir Humphrey leaves, and the Minister questions Bernard about his visit to Dr Cartwright being discovered so quickly. Bernard successfully 'walks the tightrope' and baffles Hacker with an Appleby-esque explanation. He then introduces Alex Andrews, a reporter from the Daily Mail
. Andrews has come across a story and needs the Minister's help. During the 1950s, the Ministry of Defence
took out a lease on a Scottish
island and developed it for habitation by the Royal Navy
. Now the lease has expired and the owner wishes to modernise its facilities to make a holiday camp. However, as the original contract was made under Scottish law — and the civil service official in charge didn't know the difference — the MoD can't be paid a penny for it. Andrews knows that he can inspect all the relevant paperwork in a few weeks under the 30-year rule
, but wants a guarantee that all the documentation will be there.
The next day, Sir Humphrey is on the train to work and opens his Daily Mail. He is horrified to see Andrews' story given a double-page feature.
Back in Hacker's office, Sir Humphrey seems uncharacteristically detached and the Minister asks him about the Mails story. Hacker is interested to know the identity of the offending civil servant, and, as everything is documented, the information is bound to be on file somewhere. He tells Sir Humphrey of his plan to allow Andrews a free run of the departmental papers under the 30-year rule. The Permanent Secretary is mortified and tries every argument he can think of on the grounds of national security, but to no avail. Dejected, he walks out. Hacker is puzzled over Sir Humphrey's demeanour and confides in Bernard. They both realise that it may have been Sir Humphrey himself who was responsible for messing up the MoD contract, and a glance at Who's Who
confirms it. Hacker is quietly gleeful and asks Bernard to invite Sir Humphrey back in. The mandarin does not walk in confidently as is his habit, but instead timidly puts his head around the door. Hacker states that he wants an inquiry to establish the name of the official who was in charge, and subsequently wasted £40 million of taxpayers' money. Sir Humphrey gives the Minister a list of costly government projects that have been perceived as failures, but Hacker is adamant. A demoralised Sir Humphrey sits down and confesses all, with typical logorrhoea
. The Minister forgives him and pledges to conceal the offending papers from the Daily Mail — so long as Sir Humphrey agrees not to discipline South Derbyshire. He concurs, and already has to hand a list of the standard government reasons for exempting information from the 30-year rule: it covers every document in the file.
BBC
The British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
comedy series Yes Minister
Yes Minister
Yes Minister is a satirical British sitcom written by Antony Jay and Jonathan Lynn that was first transmitted by BBC Television between 1980–1982 and 1984, split over three seven-episode series. The sequel, Yes, Prime Minister, ran from 1986 to 1988. In total there were 38 episodes—of which all but...
and was first broadcast 25 November 1982.
Plot
Jim HackerJames Hacker
James George Hacker, Baron Hacker of Islington, KG, PC, B. Sc. , Hon. D. C. L. was a fictional British politician. He was the Minister of the fictional Department of Administrative Affairs, and later the Prime Minister, in the 1980s British sitcom Yes Minister and its sequel, Yes, Prime Minister...
is chairing a meeting of his senior officials. One item on the agenda is the disciplinary action to be taken against the South Derbyshire
South Derbyshire
South Derbyshire is a local government district in Derbyshire, England. It contains a third of the National Forest, and the council offices are in Swadlincote....
local authority for failing to complete its statutory returns and supply required information. Sir Humphrey Appleby
Humphrey Appleby
Sir Humphrey Appleby, GCB, KBE, MVO, MA , is a fictional character from the British television series Yes, Minister and Yes, Prime Minister. He was played by Sir Nigel Hawthorne. In Yes Minister, he is the Permanent Secretary for the Department of Administrative Affairs...
regards this as a serious matter. Around the table, several examples of "incompetence" are given and the Minister
Minister (government)
A minister is a politician who holds significant public office in a national or regional government. Senior ministers are members of the cabinet....
wishes to know of any "redeeming features". One of the officials, Dr Cartwright, attempts to interject but Sir Humphrey is quick to stop him. After the meeting, the Permanent Secretary
Permanent Secretary
The Permanent secretary, in most departments officially titled the permanent under-secretary of state , is the most senior civil servant of a British Government ministry, charged with running the department on a day-to-day basis...
is equally speedy at steering Dr Cartwright out of Hacker's office and the Minister confesses to Bernard
Bernard Woolley
Sir Bernard Woolley GCB is one of the three main fictional characters of the 1980s British sitcom Yes Minister and its sequel, Yes, Prime Minister. He was portrayed by Derek Fowlds.-Character:...
, his Principal Private Secretary
Principal Private Secretary
In the British Civil Service and Australian Public Service the Principal Private Secretary is the civil servant who runs a cabinet minister's private office...
, that he smells a rat. He decides to "drop in" on Dr Cartwright. Bernard seeks to dissuade him as Sir Humphrey disapproves of ministers "going walkabout". Hacker ignores this advice and goes anyway. Bernard is duty bound to inform Sir Humphrey's office, and it is a mere ten seconds before the mandarin strides in to demand an explanation. He is disturbed that Hacker is "loose in the building" and wishes to know to where he is. Bernard is reluctant to betray a confidence but Sir Humphrey, not for the first time, uses his subordinate's civil service
British Civil Service
Her Majesty's Home Civil Service, also known as the Home Civil Service, is the permanent bureaucracy of Crown employees that supports Her Majesty's Government - the government of the United Kingdom, composed of a Cabinet of ministers chosen by the prime minister, as well as the devolved...
career prospects as leverage — forcing Bernard to name Dr Cartwright as a hypothetical example of someone whom the Minister may wish to visit.
Meanwhile, Hacker has sought out Dr Cartwright and is receiving some startling facts about South Derbyshire. It is the most efficient council
County council
A county council is the elected administrative body governing an area known as a county. This term has slightly different meanings in different countries.-United Kingdom:...
in the UK
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
, and the Minister is supposed to be reprimanding it for being the worst. Cartwright gives him some examples of its economies — but then Sir Humphrey bursts in. He cross-examines the Minister over his being there but Hacker is unable to give a convincing excuse. Sir Humphrey requests an immediate meeting with him back upstairs, and Hacker has little option but to comply.
In his office, Hacker is confronted by his Permanent Secretary who is incensed that the Minister has been speaking to others in the department: he may learn things that are not to be learned. He states that every conversation should be minuted for the sake of future generations. Bernard enters to remind the Minister of an imminent appointment with a journalist but Hacker invites him to stay so he can minute the ensuing discussion between him and Sir Humphrey. They end it at loggerheads, with Hacker refusing to discipline South Derbyshire and Sir Humphrey telling him that he has no choice as it is the law and other, more powerful departments, want to see it occur. Sir Humphrey leaves, and the Minister questions Bernard about his visit to Dr Cartwright being discovered so quickly. Bernard successfully 'walks the tightrope' and baffles Hacker with an Appleby-esque explanation. He then introduces Alex Andrews, a reporter from the Daily Mail
Daily Mail
The Daily Mail is a British daily middle-market tabloid newspaper owned by the Daily Mail and General Trust. First published in 1896 by Lord Northcliffe, it is the United Kingdom's second biggest-selling daily newspaper after The Sun. Its sister paper The Mail on Sunday was launched in 1982...
. Andrews has come across a story and needs the Minister's help. During the 1950s, the Ministry of Defence
Ministry of Defence (United Kingdom)
The Ministry of Defence is the United Kingdom government department responsible for implementation of government defence policy and is the headquarters of the British Armed Forces....
took out a lease on a Scottish
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
island and developed it for habitation by the Royal Navy
Royal Navy
The Royal Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Founded in the 16th century, it is the oldest service branch and is known as the Senior Service...
. Now the lease has expired and the owner wishes to modernise its facilities to make a holiday camp. However, as the original contract was made under Scottish law — and the civil service official in charge didn't know the difference — the MoD can't be paid a penny for it. Andrews knows that he can inspect all the relevant paperwork in a few weeks under the 30-year rule
Thirty year rule
The "thirty year rule" is the popular name given to a law in the United Kingdom, the Republic of Ireland, and Australia that provides that the yearly cabinet papers of a government will be released publicly thirty years after they were created....
, but wants a guarantee that all the documentation will be there.
The next day, Sir Humphrey is on the train to work and opens his Daily Mail. He is horrified to see Andrews' story given a double-page feature.
Back in Hacker's office, Sir Humphrey seems uncharacteristically detached and the Minister asks him about the Mails story. Hacker is interested to know the identity of the offending civil servant, and, as everything is documented, the information is bound to be on file somewhere. He tells Sir Humphrey of his plan to allow Andrews a free run of the departmental papers under the 30-year rule. The Permanent Secretary is mortified and tries every argument he can think of on the grounds of national security, but to no avail. Dejected, he walks out. Hacker is puzzled over Sir Humphrey's demeanour and confides in Bernard. They both realise that it may have been Sir Humphrey himself who was responsible for messing up the MoD contract, and a glance at Who's Who
Who's Who (UK)
Who's Who is an annual British publication of biographies which vary in length of about 30,000 living notable Britons.-History:...
confirms it. Hacker is quietly gleeful and asks Bernard to invite Sir Humphrey back in. The mandarin does not walk in confidently as is his habit, but instead timidly puts his head around the door. Hacker states that he wants an inquiry to establish the name of the official who was in charge, and subsequently wasted £40 million of taxpayers' money. Sir Humphrey gives the Minister a list of costly government projects that have been perceived as failures, but Hacker is adamant. A demoralised Sir Humphrey sits down and confesses all, with typical logorrhoea
Logorrhoea
Logorrhoea or logorrhea may refer to:*Logorrhoea, a synonym of verbosity*Logorrhea , a communication disorder resulting in incoherent talkativeness...
. The Minister forgives him and pledges to conceal the offending papers from the Daily Mail — so long as Sir Humphrey agrees not to discipline South Derbyshire. He concurs, and already has to hand a list of the standard government reasons for exempting information from the 30-year rule: it covers every document in the file.
Episode cast
| Actor | Role |
|---|---|
| Paul Eddington Paul Eddington Paul Eddington CBE was an English actor best known for his appearances in popular television sitcoms of the 1970s and 80s: The Good Life, Yes Minister and Yes, Prime Minister.-Early life:... |
Jim Hacker |
| Nigel Hawthorne Nigel Hawthorne Sir Nigel Barnard Hawthorne, CBE was an English actor, perhaps best remembered for his role as Sir Humphrey Appleby, the Permanent Secretary in the 1980s sitcom Yes Minister and the Cabinet Secretary in its sequel, Yes, Prime Minister. For this role he won four BAFTA Awards during the 1980s in the... |
Sir Humphrey Appleby |
| Derek Fowlds Derek Fowlds Derek Fowlds is an English actor, known for playing Bernard Woolley in popular British television comedies Yes, Minister and Yes, Prime Minister and Oscar Blaketon in the long-running ITV police drama Heartbeat.... |
Bernard Woolley |
| Ian Lavender Ian Lavender Arthur Ian Lavender , better known as Ian Lavender, is an English stage, film and television actor, best known for his role as Private Frank Pike in the BBC comedy series Dad's Army.-Early life and career:... |
Dr Cartwright |
| Donald Gee | Alex Andrews |
| John Pennington | Peter |
| Rosemary Williams | Civil Servant |