Source · Select Committees · Public Accounts Committee
Recommendation 12
12
Accepted
Office for Life Sciences model shows potential for integrated cross-departmental working
Conclusion
In the absence of formal agreements, the NAO reported that teams had taken different approaches to agree roles and that structures had emerged to overcome cross-departmental barriers.24 The Department highlighted the Office for Life Sciences (OLS), its cross-department skills forum, and the recent Growth Mission Board as examples of government taking an integrated approach.25 The Department told us that the Office for Life Sciences was created in the early 2010s as a small team to be the voice of the pharmaceutical and life sciences industries within government, integrating different issues and views and providing a single interface to industry. It considered this model had been effective and that there was potential for the approach to be used more widely.26 19 C&AG’s Report, para 13 20 C&AG’s Report, para 2.8 21 Q 61 22 C&AG’s Report, para 2.10 23 Qq 78-79 24 C&AG’s Report, paras 2.9-2.11 25 Qq 52,75 26 Qq 52-53 10
Government Response Summary
The department developed the whole of the Industrial Strategy in partnership with other departments and this ongoing programme of work involves sector councils and taskforces.
Government Response
Accepted
HM Government
Accepted
2.1 The government agrees with the Committee’s recommendation. Recommendation implemented 2.2 The department developed the whole of the Industrial Strategy in partnership with other departments, with Sector Plans led by relevant departments. This ongoing programme of work involves sector councils and taskforces, chaired by leaders from the sectors and with representatives across relevant industries, working with lead departments and the Department for Business and Trade as appropriate.