Source · Select Committees · Public Administration and Constitutional Affairs Committee

Recommendation 21

21 Accepted in Part Paragraph: 71

Mandate ministerial board training and require departments to list board evaluation actions

Recommendation
The effective use of departmental boards requires sufficient ministerial interest and regular scrutiny. Secretaries of State should undertake mandatory training, with the Prime Minister’s sponsorship, on their role chairing quarterly board meetings, how to work with NEDs, and how to run a departmental board effectively. Departments should also list specific actions that they are taking forward as a result of annual board effectiveness evaluations in their annual reports and accounts.
Government Response Summary
The government accepts in part, stating that Lead Non-Executives, supported by NEBMs, should support Secretaries of State in running effective boards, and will provide supporting guidance. They will also encourage all departments to list actions from board effectiveness evaluations in annual reports, rather than mandating it, differing from mandatory training for SoS.
Paragraph Reference: 71
Government Response Accepted in Part
HM Government Accepted in Part
We believe that it should be Lead Non Executives, supported by NEBMs with experience of chairing boards of large organisations, who should be charged with supporting Secretaries of State to run effective boards and will provide supporting guidance. Many departments already include these details in their annual report and accounts and we will encourage all to do so.