Impartial civil servants have been sidelined and large areas of public business have been politicised, according to former senior civil servants.

The findings are included in a report due to be published by the Better Government Initiative on Wednesday.

A preview of the report in the Financial Times today suggests that the carefully worded report betrays frustration with the 'sofa government' approach of the Labour administration.

The group behind the report, established in 2007, includes former cabinet secretary Lord Butler, Iraq inquiry chairman Sir John Chilcot and former permanent secretaries such as Sir Richard Mottram and Sir John Chilcot.

Their report is also set to criticise ministers who put presentation before practicality, and to recommend that they receive training for their role and are not moved around so much.

It will also call for a return to collective government so as to avoid decisions being taken by ministers, including the prime minister, before they have been discussed with colleagues.

For full coverage of the report see the next issue of Civil Service World, published on Wednesday Jan 26.