In the same article the Minister justifies benchmarking because it will lead to improvements in promotional arrangements in the Civil Service with, in his own words, "greater emphasis on merit". This is illuminating because the Minister is implying that the existing system of promotion within the Civil Service is not based on merit or ability. It also suggests that the Minister considers he must pay civil servants to get their agreement to achieve a "greater emphasis on merit." A real benchmarking process would reward those who perform well and deliver better services, whether as individuals or as part of teams. It should not, as it is doing at present, prop up a promotion system which is based not on merit but on seniority.