Source · Select Committees · Public Administration and Constitutional Affairs Committee
Recommendation 4
4
Accepted
Paragraph: 42
Publish accessible research explaining economic benefits of the Places for Growth programme.
Conclusion
The Cabinet Office has made high-profile statements about the economic benefits to be delivered by Places for Growth, referring to research which supports its estimates. However, it has only just published information about this research, and this information was not written for easy digestion by the general public. This is a clear example of bad practice, as it prevents Parliament and the wider public from comprehensively reviewing the arguments and evidence underlying the alleged benefits of the programme. The Cabinet Office should, alongside its response to this report, publish details of the research underpinning its claims of economic benefits in a form which clearly explains how the claims made in previous Places to Growth press releases have been calculated. Moreover, the Government Analysis Function should, within six months, publish a statement on its website and write to heads of the analysis function within all government departments urging them to bring the transparency requirements of all government analysts into line with the best practice guidelines set by the Office for Statistics Regulation. This should make clear that, whenever economic research is referred to in press notices and ministerial statements, departments should present links to a published form of this research.
Government Response Summary
The government claims that research underpinning the economic benefits of the Places for Growth programme has already been published and that further early-stage analysis of the benefits is scheduled for this financial year. The National Statistician will respond directly to the Committee on the part of the recommendation relating to the Government Analysis Function.
Paragraph Reference:
42
Government Response
Accepted
HM Government
Accepted
Research underpinning the economic benefits of the Places for Growth programme has already been published. Places for Growth shared details of the forecast economic benefits used to support the initiation of the Programme with the Committee on 17 May 2023. Places for Growth is three years into a ten year programme and further early-stage analysis of the benefits delivered by the programme is scheduled for this financial year. This work will contribute to the evidence base and help to inform the future trajectory of the programme. Benefits evaluation will include the positive impact of role relocation to HM Government offices and how they are attracting business investment to locations with significant growth like in Darlington. The National Statistician will respond directly to the Committee on the part of the recommendation relating to the Government Analysis Function.