An occasional series of interviews in which Desmond Wilcox talks to the men with power behind the scenes. Sir William Armstrong , KCB, MVO, Head of the Home Civil Service and Permanent Secretary to the. Civil Service Department. His decisions vitally affect the man in the dole queue and the man at 10 Downing Street. Recently there has been much discussion about who runs the country. Many believe that much of that power lies with anonymous civil servants; critics believe too much power, both in major policy decisions and in day-to-day contact with members of the public.