Source · Select Committees · Public Administration and Constitutional Affairs Committee
Ninth Report - Civil Service People Survey
Public Administration and Constitutional Affairs Committee
HC 575
Published 24 October 2023
Recommendations
9
Rejected
Para 37
Publish initial People Survey results when distributed, before end of calendar year.
Recommendation
We recommend that in future, initial results from the People Survey (including median scores for each question for both the civil service, and individual participating organisations) be published at the point they are distributed to participants, and before the end …
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Government Response Summary
The Cabinet Office does not accept the recommendation to publish initial People Survey results at the point of distribution and before year-end. However, it commits to reducing the timing between internal and external distribution and will explore including release dates in the Research and Statistics calendar.
11
Rejected
Classify People Survey results as official statistics, complying with Code of Practice.
Recommendation
The People Survey is a dataset of significant public interest. In future, the People Survey results should be treated and classified as official statistics and be published in full compliance with the Code of Practice for Statistics. The Cabinet Office …
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Government Response Summary
The Cabinet Office does not accept the recommendation to classify People Survey results as official statistics, arguing it is primarily a management tool. It commits to publishing high-level findings commentary and reducing timing between internal and external distribution, which is not the core of this recommendation.
14
Rejected
Para 56
Require departments to develop, report, and evaluate People Survey action plans in Annual Reports.
Recommendation
Departments themselves should develop action plans in response to future People Survey results, which define measurable and timely interventions. These action plans should be included in departmental Annual Reports and Accounts each year. Departments should also evaluate their success in …
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Government Response Summary
The government disagrees with the premise that effective action is not taken, stating that departmental communication and action vary. While the Cabinet Office supports departments with tools for action plans, the government does not commit to mandating their inclusion, along with evaluations, in departmental Annual Reports and Accounts.
Conclusions (3)
8
Conclusion
Rejected
Para 36
It is not clear to us that withholding People Survey data, so as to time its release with countless publications about Ministerial gifts, hospitality and expenses, is truly a transparent, or helpful, approach to the publication of the important data collected by the People Survey. We similarly find it difficult …
Government Response Summary
The Cabinet Office does not accept the implied recommendation to change its publication timing, despite the committee's strong criticism of current delays. It commits to reducing the timing between internal and external distribution and will explore including release dates in the Research and Statistics calendar.
10
Conclusion
Rejected
Para 45
When first established, the People Survey was envisioned as a management tool to support public bodies in gauging and promoting employee engagement. But the high-quality data it has generated - a result of excellent work by government statisticians, particularly in the early years of the survey - has proven itself …
Government Response Summary
The Cabinet Office does not accept the committee's conclusion regarding the People Survey's broader value for scrutiny, reiterating that it is primarily a management tool. It commits to publishing a commentary and reducing timing between internal and external distribution of findings.
12
Conclusion
Rejected
For over a decade, a majority of civil servants have been telling their leaders that they do not believe effective action is taken on the back of People Surveys. External users of the data share these concerns. Given that the Cabinet Office describes the People Survey as a management tool, …
Government Response Summary
The government disagrees with the overall statement that effective action is not taken from the People Survey, highlighting existing support for departments in analysing results and providing tools for action plans.