Source · Select Committees · Public Administration and Constitutional Affairs Committee
Recommendation 6
6
Paragraph: 49
We have heard little evidence to support the creation of a separate Department for the...
Conclusion
We have heard little evidence to support the creation of a separate Department for the Prime Minister. The current Office of the Prime Minister is too small and much of its workforce too transient to be sensibly treated as a distinct department. The creation of a larger department, bringing together Number 10, the Cabinet Office and perhaps parts of HM Treasury has its supporters. However, the detail of this and how it might work are beyond the remit of this inquiry. Moreover, at least some of the benefits could be achieved through better collective working and a clearer specification of the respective roles of Number 10 and the Cabinet Office.
Paragraph Reference:
49
Government Response
Acknowledged
HM Government
Acknowledged
The Annual Report and Accounts includes narrative sections on some business units’ work, to help illustrate how the department is working to deliver its priorities. However, these are not intended to cover all, or even most, business units. The Prime Minister’s Office is one of many business units which do not have a narrative section in the Annual Report and Accounts. Given the way in which Government has historically functioned, and continues to function, it would potentially be misleading to separate out the work of the Prime Minister and the work of the Cabinet. As the Cabinet Manual (2011) states: ‘The Prime Minister is the Sovereign’s principal adviser, chairs Cabinet and has overall responsibility for the organisation of government. Cabinet is the ultimate arbiter of all government policy.’ (p3-4) Given this close relationship and overlapping responsibilities, it would be difficult to comprehensively delineate which business units support the Cabinet and which business units support the Prime Minister. can be achieved through more and sustained collective working. This is already happening - recent work to improve planning and performance, including but not limited to the creation of the Outcome Delivery Plans, is an example of close working at the centre. From The role and status of the Prime Minister’s Office: Government Response 3 initiation to implementation the centre has worked with shared objectives, joint virtual teams and co-leadership under the Planning, Risk and Performance Board co-chaired by the Civil Service Chief Operating Officer and Director General for Public Spending (Alex Chisholm and Cat Little). The Declaration of Government Reform—published in June 2021—made a commitment to making the centre (of Government) smarter alongside reinvigorating the principle of departmental accountability.