Source · Select Committees · Public Accounts Committee
Recommendation 23
23
We asked the Cabinet Office about recent communications about travel in and out of local...
Conclusion
We asked the Cabinet Office about recent communications about travel in and out of local areas. On 14 May 2021, the GOV.UK website advised the public against travel out of areas with high levels of the delta variant of the virus, including Bolton, Blackburn with Darwen and Kirklees. This led to confusion and to a change in guidance on 25 May to clarify that the government was not imposing local restrictions. The Cabinet Office acknowledged that this had not been its “finest hour” and that the guidance was not communicated as well as it should have been. It attributed this to the fact that government focused on the communication on what it could offer the public (surge testing), rather than on the guidance asking people to be more cautious. It admitted that this had been a mistake and had now been rectified to clarify that asking people in the affected areas to take extra care and minimise travel was guidance, not law. It also stated that, following this incident, communication with local authorities in areas affected by high rates of the delta variant had improved, “taking it back to what we should always have been doing”.50 Risk management
Government Response
Not Addressed
HM Government
Not Addressed
4: PAC conclusion: A lack of clarity, timeliness and the volume of government communications has, at times, hindered the public’s understanding of guidelines and ability to comply with them. 4: PAC recommendation: The Cabinet Office should write to us by 31 October 2021, setting out what lessons it has learnt regarding communicating with the public and stakeholders and what guidelines or procedures it has implemented to minimise issues concerning the volume, clarity and timeliness of communications 4.1 The government agrees with the Committee’s recommendation. Target implementation date: October 2021 4.2 The Cabinet Office wrote to the committee on 29th October 2021. 4.3 Communications has been a critical lever for the government to deploy during this crisis. Government Communication Service professionals have used best practice from across the industry, public, private and third sectors to deliver COVID-19 Communications. 4.4 During the pandemic, evolving scientific understanding of the virus and the unpredictable nature of the spread and its impact has required agile policy and communications (fast, flexible and proportionate to risk level). 4.5 Key lessons learnt include: ● Communications are significantly more effective on behaviour compliance when mutually supported by policy advice and regulation. Collaboration across policy and communications is essential, with a strong strategic communications and centralised