You can probably trace the reduction in instructing standards of basic flying skills to the number of RAF A2 instructors leaving the service aged 38+, and being employed at what was the Commerical Flying Schools. Hamble/Oxford/British Aerospace FC/Cabair to name but a few.
A Standards Dept were the Quality Control. Once the critical mass of ex-A2s were not present then standards could not be guaranteed, as more "self improvers" were employed to keep up with the demand.
WilliumM is 100% correct about the undue influence of the HR department. It is the Training Dept who should be the controlling influence over selection. If HR were charged through budgetary control for their howlers, they would appreciate the merit of pilots having the casting vote.