Source · Select Committees · Public Accounts Committee
Recommendation 17
17
Despite the lack of capability blueprints in place, HM Treasury shared with us positive examples...
Conclusion
Despite the lack of capability blueprints in place, HM Treasury shared with us positive examples of cross-government collaboration. The Treasury told us it had integrated functions into major investment decisions, with all functions involved in the appraisal of capital programmes throughout the Spending Review process. HM Treasury also told us it was a priority to integrate the functions into the wider Spending Review process and it has been working with the Cabinet Office to develop guidance on how departments should interact with functions throughout this process. This included designing specific templates to ensure the functions input in the process.31 Demonstrating the benefits of the functions
Government Response
Not Addressed
HM Government
Not Addressed
5.1 The government disagrees with the Committee’s recommendation. 5.2 The Cabinet Office confirms that Heads of Function are committed to formulating, implementing and publishing their own capability blueprints (strategic plans), and recognises that functions will need additional time beyond April 2021 to finalise these. This is driven in part by contextual pressures (for example, the functions focussing their efforts on the COVID-19 response) and, in other respects, the availability of functional workforce data. 5.3 At present, the Commercial function is the most advanced, with a commercial blueprint in place and updated on an annual basis. Equivalent capability plans and strategies are evident elsewhere across the functions and professions, with - for example - Communications, Counter fraud and Security reporting the regular use of these. The Finance function is developing a performance framework to measure progress against the strategic deliverables it set out in its 2019 strategy and will begin reporting in April 2021. The Finance function will also use the performance framework to measure the overall impact of the function and use workforce data collected from departments to develop its capability blueprint in 2021-22. HR has developed substantial elements of its blueprint work, including the HR functional standards and associated assessment framework (in pilot) and the HR career framework, and intends to publish its blueprint during 2021. 5.4 The Cabinet Office will continue to support this process by sharing best practice across government, including through the appropriate governance routes.