Source · Select Committees · Public Accounts Committee
Recommendation 21
21
The report by the National Audit Office emphasises the need for efficiency to remain a...
Conclusion
The report by the National Audit Office emphasises the need for efficiency to remain a priority on an ongoing basis, rather than only being taken seriously at major fiscal events such as Spending Reviews.53 The report describes the need for system incentives to be in place, with leadership behaviour that encourages continuous improvement, and that continuous improvement should involve all levels of an organisation.54 We asked the Treasury and Cabinet Office how they will encourage government to embed efficiency as an ongoing process, and encourage departments to use continuous improvement.
Government Response
Not Addressed
HM Government
Not Addressed
6. PAC conclusion: Government efficiency drives tend to be one-off events rather than being embedded as a continuous priority. 6: PAC recommendation: HM Treasury and the Cabinet Office should work jointly from the centre of government to consider how best to instil a culture of continuous improvement across government that lasts beyond this Spending Review process. 6.1 The government agrees with the Committee’s recommendation. Target implementation date: Summer 2022 6.2 As part of the driving the agenda on efficiency, HM Treasury will continue to work closely with the Government Functions and other parts of the centre of government to drive the identification of further efficiencies. HM Treasury intends to do this through closer collaboration with the functions within decision making on programmes and ensuring functions are engaged to enable delivery. HM Treasury is also looking to regularise the links between functional experts and Treasury teams to improve scrutiny of all business cases. HM Treasury plans to go further in this space and will write to the Committee with plans to oversee the Efficiency Agenda at the beginning of the SR period in summer 2022. 6.3 The Declaration on Government Reform signed by the Prime Minister and Cabinet Secretary in June 2021 laid out a vision for reform and kickstarted its implementation across government via 30 initial actions. The Cabinet Office is capitalising on the momentum generated to mainstream reform across government, through reform Champions in each department (there are now more than 2,000), through the A Modern Civil Service vision, and through leadership from both Ministers and senior officials - both as sponsors of actions and in their day-to-day work. In this way, the Declaration will instil a culture of continuous improvement across government that will deliver greater efficiency and value for money across coming years.