Source · Select Committees · Public Accounts Committee
Recommendation 1
1
Accepted
Committee heard evidence from officials and practitioners on cross-government working challenges and opportunities.
Conclusion
On the basis of a report by the Comptroller and Auditor General, we took evidence from Sir Alex Chisholm, Permanent Secretary at the Cabinet Office, and from Cat Little, Second Permanent Secretary at HM Treasury, about cross-government working.1 We also took evidence from four practitioners to understand more about the key challenges and opportunities they have experienced from cross-government working. They were: Catherine Hutchinson, Head of the Evaluation Task Force; Will Garton, Director General for Levelling Up, Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities (DLUHC); Chris Thompson, Director for Net Zero Strategy, Department for Energy, Security and Net Zero; and, Nathan Moores, Director for Shared Services at the Cabinet Office.
Government Response Summary
The government states it already provides support for cross-government working, including a 'Joint Working Support Project', a hub on the Policy Profession website, improved joint spending bid processes at SR21, and learning packages through Government Campus and the Leadership College for Government.
Government Response
Accepted
HM Government
Accepted
The government agrees with the Committee’s recommendation. Recommendation implemented The government already provides a range of support to departments to improve cross- government working. The government has provided hands-on support to teams who work with other departments through designing a ‘Joint Working Support Project’. This methodology supports projects examine common barriers to effective joint working and help departments identify what model of cross-government working might work best for them. The government has published a hub on the Policy Profession website to offer tips, links and guidance to colleagues working across departmental boundaries. The hub offers support on four key pillars of joint working: governance, data, finance and culture. At Spending Review 2021, HM Treasury improved the process for joint spending bids. This included providing training, guidance, and advice to departmental finance and policy teams to set out the requirements for a joint bid. Through these processes, HM Treasury has supported departments on how to approach cross-government working. HM Treasury will continue to monitor and, as appropriate, offer support for departments going forward. Government Campus offers a package of learning to all civil servants that provides toolkits and case studies that support better collaborative working across government. Where there are new cross-government needs or the existing products require improvement, the Government Skills and Curriculum Unit works with HM Treasury and the Government Finance Function to improve the offer. The Leadership College for Government also provides a suite of programmes for senior leaders designed to improve collaboration and cross-government working.