Source · Select Committees · Public Accounts Committee
Recommendation 22
22
Acknowledged
Department reviewing resource allocation to align with Industrial Strategy priority sectors
Conclusion
We asked the Department about its overall priorities and whether it had aligned its resources accordingly. The Department explained that when the former DIT and BEIS merged, two sets of teams came together, which it structured around 10 economic sectors. Its directorates were approximately the same size, but the size of specific sector teams varied. The Department told us that it was continuing to review its structure and make changes in light of the forthcoming Industrial Strategy, noting that it had to allocate resources to the top priority sectors, with fewer resources in other sectors.45 We asked the Department how it reconciled individual sector needs with cross-economy issues, to develop an overarching approach. The Department acknowledged the complexity of needing to think about individual sectors, cross-economy issues, and what is happening in different geographies, and that it had to bring those perspectives together. It told us that integration would come through the forthcoming Industrial Strategy.46
Government Response Summary
The department will ensure effective implementation of the Industrial Strategy by using a permanent delivery unit and restructuring teams, which will be mostly completed by Spring 2026.
Government Response
Acknowledged
HM Government
Acknowledged
5.1 The government agrees with the Committee’s recommendation. Target implementation date: Spring 2026 5.2 The department will ensure effective implementation of the Industrial Strategy. The Industrial Strategy Unit has transitioned into a permanent delivery unit to coordinate implementation and policy development. The Industrial Strategy provides a framework to coordinate cross-government work to ensure implementation is a government-wide effort. 5.3 The department has set out plans to restructure teams and focus efforts on Industrial Strategy delivery. This is already in progress and will be mostly completed by Spring 2026. As part of this transformation, the department will ensure a continued focus on the IS-8 growth- driving sectors and on supporting all of government to focus on growth-driving initiatives.