Source · Select Committees · Committees on Arms Export Controls
Recommendation 8
8
Accepted
Paragraph: 38
We welcome the decision to launch the ECJU Transformation Programme and the opportunity it provides...
Recommendation
We welcome the decision to launch the ECJU Transformation Programme and the opportunity it provides to improve and reform the work of the ECJU and its relationships with stakeholders. However, given the duty of DIT to inform us of relevant developments, it is disappointing that the Department did not do so on this occasion. Instead, we learned of its existence from the MoD’s Defence and Security Industrial Strategy. We expect the Government to be more proactive in informing us of future policy developments.
Government Response Summary
The ECJU commits to providing the Committee with regular updates on its transformation and continuous improvement activities, establishing a new dedicated engagement team, and delivering a new stakeholder engagement strategy in 2023.
Paragraph Reference:
38
Government Response
Accepted
HM Government
Accepted
The Transformation Programme is an internal business improvement programme. The aims of the programme, which were communicated to the Committee in a letter in May 2022, are to enable ECJU to offer a professional customer-focussed licence application service, which provides timely and accurate advice and support. The service will be underpinned by modern technology and efficient processes. To operate this service effectively, ECJU’s culture will be open, inclusive, and professional, and staff will be supported and provided with access to learning and development opportunities. The first stage of the transformation was completed by a dedicated team. From January 2023, the transformation will move into a continuous improvement model managed within ECJU. ECJU commits to providing the Committee with regular updates on the transformation and its continuous improvement activities, and ECJU will use its regular engagement with union representatives to keep them up to date on the progress of this work. ECJU recognises the importance of engaging proactively with its stakeholders. That is why it has created a new dedicated post and team to lead ECJU Engagement. Building upon the existing engagement mechanisms with industry and academia, e.g. through trade associations such as ADS Group, this role will deliver a new stakeholder engagement strategy in 2023. A key objective of ECJU’s engagement strategy will be to establish mechanisms to consistently and effectively engage with industry and we intend to take exporters’ views into account in designing how these mechanisms should work.