£7million spent on consultants who advise civil servants to put 'black tape on desks'

It is the latest idea from consultants being paid to come up with so-called innovative ideas to improve the working environment of public sector staff.

The tape is also used to mark out exactly where the computer keyboard should be placed, as well telephones. Previous novel thinking by the consultants included a desk ban on family photographs - along with any 'inactive fruit'.

Staff representatives described the idea, which is being piloted by hundreds of staff who process National Insurance payments, as 'madness'. They point out that shift workers share desks - so must repeatedly adjust the black tape, depending on the length of their arms.

But Her Majesty's Revenue and Customs - which is paying consultants 7.4m for so-called Lean programme - said the tape would help to keep desks clear of clutter. Officials said it is 'much better to work in a tidy work environment where everything has its place'.

A HMRC spokesman, attempting to defend the outlay, said: 'Part of the Lean processing is to clear the workplace and only keep essential items to hand. 'This is in line with the workstation ergonomics training that all our staff receive and complies with the display screen equipment regulations (2002).

'The markers on desks are used to demonstrate that it is much better to work in a tidy work environment where everything has its place. Staff involved have confirmed they prefer the tidier workspace.'

The Public and Commercial Services Union (PCS), more used to its members being bound-up in red than black tape, disagreed. It said asking staff to place tape on their desk in order to keep a pen in the right place was 'demoralising and demeaning'.

PCS branch secretary Kevin McHugh, who represents workers at the huge Longbenton National Insurance complex, in Longbenton, near Newcastle, said it would lead to endless re-arranging of desks.

He added: 'If the person coming in after you has longer arms, he will have to move the markers," he said. 'This office has been open for 60 years and people have managed to find their pens and staplers without consultants helping them in that time.

'Marking the desks tends to get members upset sometimes when they've got personal photographs on their desks and they have to move them around. 'But to tell the truth, once Lean moves on to the next office people tend to ignore it.'

Last year, it emerged tax collectors subject to the same Lean project had been ordered to take down photographs of spouses or children as it may make them unproductive. Managers at HM Revenue and Customs offices in North Wales were told staff to tidy up their desks and remove their family snaps.

According to a leaked memo, it was supposed to encourage 'efficient business processing'. The edict also banned workers from keeping food on their desks and restricted them to just one cup, pen and pencil.

Fruit was only allowed if it was 'active' - jargon for whether or not it was about to be eaten. So-called 'inactive' fruit was outlawed. PCS members in HMRC centres across the country took strike action last July as the Lean system - which the union claimed leads to "de-skilling" of civil service work - began to be introduced.

A further work to rule protest followed in October.