Strategic Leadership in the Civil Service: Building Future Capacity inquiry

How the Civil Service builds the skills of its future leaders is central to the quality of government in the UK. The Public Administration and Constitutional Affairs Committee's recent inquiry into Civil Service Effectiveness welcomed the emphasis that the Civil Service places on developing its future capacity. But it found that provision was piecemeal and an overarching, coordinating body was conspicuous by its absence. The Committee therefore committed to holding a further inquiry into these issues. The Committee can now announce a new inquiry into "Strategic Leadership in the Civil Service: Building Future Capacity". The Committee welcomes written submissions addressing the following questions: How should the Civil Service sustain itself as an institution? How does the Civil Service build its future capacity? What has been the effect of changes to the provision of learning and development in the Civil Service? How are Civil Service values understood and sustained? What learning and development provision in the Civil Service is required? How much does Civil Service Learning provide a coherent professional development for civil servants at all levels? What do Civil Servants need to know and what is the appropriate balance between specialist and generalist skills? What is the appropriate model of provision of learning and development? What should be the balance between in-house and outsourced provision? What lessons can be learnt from other jurisdictions? To what extent do these issues also apply to the diplomatic service?