Source · Select Committees · Public Accounts Committee
Recommendation 12
12
Ideally, all functions would have access to workforce statistics from a consistent civil service-wide data...
Conclusion
Ideally, all functions would have access to workforce statistics from a consistent civil service-wide data set. However, functions are still largely reliant on departmental data on staffing, which is variable in quality and is not always detailed enough for functions to use.22 The Cabinet Office told us that while it has more workforce data than ever before, it still has a way to go until the data available is granular enough to identify individual skills and shortages. It is keen to make sure that the functions are using standardised data, which is subject to the same definitions and approaches.23
Government Response
Not Addressed
HM Government
Not Addressed
4.1 The government agrees with the Committee’s recommendation. Target implementation date: May 2021 4.2 As set out in the response to recommendation 1, the Cabinet Office is already taking steps to improve the annual workforce projections exercise which will provide further information on key skills gaps and confirm how departments intend to address them. 4.3 Government functions (Finance, HR and Commercial) are working together to ensure that data standards are aligned and consistent for end-to-end processes that span multiple functions - the alignment of finance and workforce data will support more accurate and responsive business planning, and support more evidence-based decision making through enhanced insight. 4,4 Civil Service Human Resources is currently working with Government Business Services to improve the consistency and transparency of workforce data through process convergence, design and common data definitions starting with joiners, movers and leavers in line with the Shared Services Strategy for Government. 4.5 The Cabinet Office is also working to collect more effective functional data through the ACSES. Regular engagement is taking place between the Cabinet Office and departments to improve the quality of their ACSES returns for 2021.