Source · Select Committees · Public Accounts Committee
Recommendation 23
23
Accepted
Outreach measurement for public appointments remains incomplete, lacking social and professional background data.
Recommendation
We questioned the witnesses about their outreach initiatives and how success will be measured. When we asked how they measured success of “roadshow” events, the Cabinet Office told us that it tracks whether people sign up on the website and noted that 84% of attendees to the outreach events it has held so far strongly agree that they would recommend interest or involvement in the public appointments process to friends or colleagues. It told us that it was continuing to measure data against gender and ethnicity, but that its measures are less good for social background and it has not analysed by professional background either. The Government’s Lead Non-Executive noted that hosting outreach 40 C&AG’s Report, para 3 41 Q 73 42 Q 81 43 Q 88 44 Correspondence from Cabinet Office to Public Accounts Committee, 26 March 2024 45 Q 75 46 Q 77; C&AG’s Report, paras 13, 3.12, 3.13 47 C&AG’s Report, para 3.12 48 Q 84; C&AG’s Report, Figure 12 Non-executive appointments 15 evens is a big cost to Government so it needs to be sure that what it is doing is working. He told us that it is important that Cabinet Office measures the impact and holds itself to account for whether these activities are successful.49 When we asked how the new website might help broaden outreach, the Cabinet Office told us that it was recycling candidates from past searches who were found appointable but were not appointed. When we asked what was being done to reach new talent, the Cabinet Office assured us it was seeing fresh talent coming through but also want to make use of ‘near misses’ from past campaigns. When we asked if it was advertising opportunities in places where they would be seen by diverse audiences, the Cabinet Office told us that it was primarily using the official government website. It told us that 12,000 people had registered for the government website and approximately 5,000 had uploaded their CVs.50 49 Q 80 50 Qq 77–79 16 Non-executive appointments
Government Response Summary
The government stated it has revamped its talent and outreach offer, reaching over 2,500 people and doubling its social media reach, and will continue and enhance this activity, while tracking the progress of attendees through the applicant tracking system.
Government Response
Accepted
HM Government
Accepted
8a. PAC recommendation: In its Treasury Minute response to this report, the Cabinet Office should set out how it is measuring the effectiveness of its outreach activities and what plans it has to develop them further to reach a wider pool of candidates. 8.1 The government agrees with the Committee’s recommendation. Recommendation implemented 8.2 In mid-2023 the Cabinet Office revamped its talent and outreach offer with significant success. Over the past 12 months it has reached over 2,500 people, including 1,000 people at eight in-person events across the country, as well as more than doubling its social media reach. It has worked closely with regional partners including businesses, local authorities, charities and community groups. It has established measures to track the progress of attendees at its events through the applicant tracking system, which will enable more effective measurement of impact. The Cabinet Office intends to continue and enhance this activity in the coming year. 8b. PAC recommendation: The selection and recruitment process for non-executive directors should cover the need for them to regularly engage with ministers at all levels within a department, and there should also be in-post training to support this objective. In addition, the Cabinet Office should draw up a new code of best governance practice, which should include a requirement that all ministers and non- executive directors attend departmental board meetings as a matter of routine – this new code should be published within 12 months of this report’s publication. 8.3 The government agrees with the Committee’s recommendation. Recommendation implemented. 8.4 The selection and recruitment of non-executive board members in government departments became regulated by the Commissioner for Public Appointments in June 2023. As a result, the appointment process follows the Governance Code on Public Appointments and engages ministers in line with the regulated process. Departments will continue to engage with all relevant ministers at each stage of the process. The Cabinet Office will continue to keep this under review and will make further adjustments as necessary. 8.5 The government will continue to strongly encourage all members, including ministers, to prioritise attendance at board meetings wherever possible and will reflect that in the next update of the Corporate Governance Code for Central Government Departments. The Corporate Governance Code reflects best practice and seeks to ensure that there is a balance of representation between ministers, officials and non-executives on the board. This encourages full and frank debate, challenge and scrutiny in the board setting. Boards that are too large tend to be less effective and there should remain some flexibility to have boards that meet departmental needs and priorities; reflecting the spirit of industry best practice for effective boards.