It will be interesting to see how the new SSC will cope with the increased pressures on headcount. I fear that the impact of reducing numbers will make it much harder for staff to justify the time invested in training and development, and that this will hamper the efforts to 'work smarter, not harder'. Our recent staff survey has shown a strong downward move in the number of staff agreeing that there is sufficient time for training and development. Unless action is taken to prioritise learning and development, and perhaps include it in people's annual objectives, I fear that the long-hours culture will merely become more embedded.