A new independent review will be launched today into the wiring
of Whitehall, looking at the efficiency and effectiveness of how
government works and decisions are enacted.
The Governance and Accountability review will be led by former
Cabinet Office Minister , who will chair the work and
recommend ways to make government more efficient in autumn.
The review delivers on commitments in the Declaration on
Government Reform to look at how the Civil Service functions and
will evaluate how well the current system delivers on government
commitments.
It will examine the duties of Ministers and top officials in
governing the Civil Service, including the balance of their
respective responsibilities and whether civil servants are
sufficiently empowered to deliver against expectations, as well
as the effectiveness of Cabinet and its Committees.
The way in which Cabinet decisions are implemented will be
considered as part of this, such as how Cabinet Secretariat teams
inform, record and monitor actions.
The role of Departmental Boards and Non-Executive Directors in
the smooth running of departments will also be reviewed, along
with the work of Civil Service wide boards in driving efficiency
across Whitehall.
Minister for Brexit Opportunities and Government
Efficiency, said:
The public rightly expects the government to be a well-oiled
machine, with clear lines of accountability ensuring government
is making the best decisions possible and extracting maximum
value from taxpayers’ money.
is uniquely qualified to lead
this review. Leveraging his vast experience of public sector
reform will help us learn lessons from the pandemic and better
deliver on the British public’s priorities.
Former Cabinet Office minister and review Chair, said:
I was delighted that last year’s Declaration on Government Reform
included the commitment to commission this review. The
commitment was made in the joint names of the Minister for the
Cabinet Office and the Head of the Civil Service, who both
clearly recognised the need for it. I am happy to accept
the Government’s invitation to conduct this review.
The way government makes decisions, how they are implemented, and
how Ministers and officials are held to account, are all
essential to delivering good outcomes for our citizens.
I will seek views from current and former Ministers and civil
servants, and will draw on lessons from other governments.
Departmental experiences during the COVID-19 pandemic will be
evaluated as part of the review, with evidence being gathered
from across government, experts in the private sector and other
administrations around the world.
As a former Minister with significant experience in government
and the private sector, including extensive experience of
managing public sector efficiency and reform, is uniquely qualified to lead
the review.
He will be supported by a Secretariat based in the Cabinet Office
and will deliver his recommendations to the Chancellor for the
Duchy of Lancaster and Minister for Brexit Opportunities and
Government Efficiency.
The review is being sponsored by the Permanent Secretary of the
Ministry of Justice, .
Notes to editors
You can read the review’s terms of reference here.
The review Chair is an unpaid role.
The Minister for Brexit Opportunities and Government Efficiency
has commissioned an independent Review to deliver on Actions 29
and 30 from the 2021 Declaration on Government Reform:
-
Action 29: Complete a review of Civil
Service governance, including consideration of the appropriate
roles for senior officials, Non-Executive Directors and
Ministers.
-
Action 30: Complete a review of models of
accountability for decisions, drawing on international best
practice and experiences during the pandemic and taking account
of the role and design of ministerial directions.
The existing rights of and accountabilities to Parliament will be
respected. The review will not consider any issues relating to
taxation or the public spending accountability framework or
governance processes, which are the responsibility of the
Chancellor of the Exchequer and continue to be reviewed and
updated as required through existing processes.
