1st Special Report - Promoting national strategy: How select committee scrutiny can improve strategic thinking in Whitehall: Government response

This is the government's response, published 4 April 2025.

Summary written by Accountability Index from the government's response. It is not the government's own words.

The Government welcomes the report and sets out progress on embedding national strategy through the Plan for Change and missions, but says it is "not convinced" that a Committee on National Strategic Priorities is required.

• On a new National School for Government and Public Services, the Government says officials are "currently considering" what training delivery model will best ensure the skills needed, with decisions on a future model to be taken "in the context of the Spending Review".
• On training for MPs, it says any future scheme "would need to consider several issues including funding, sponsorship" and information security, and that the House of Commons "may wish to consider" providing one.
• On leading strategy from the centre, it points to the new Mission Delivery Unit in the Cabinet Office, which works with departments, No10 and HM Treasury to drive progress on the missions set out in the Plan for Change.
• On scrutiny, it states existing select committees already have an established role in scrutinising departmental strategic priorities, "would encourage" continued cross-committee collaboration, and "notes" the Committee's suggestions, adding that changes to core tasks are a matter for the House.

Read the government's response ↗ Report an error