A report provided the findings of a review of financial management in government, which made recommendations that the government would plan to implement in full.
Source: Review of Financial Management in Government, HM Treasury
Links: Report | HMT press release
Date: 2013-Dec
An audit report said that, although the system for collecting student loan repayments through HMRC was cost-effective, the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills was underperforming in: its collection of overdue payments; forecasting; and use of information. The report concluded that it was necessary to address those areas of underperformance to improve value for money, even if parts of the student loan book were sold.
Source: Student Loan Repayments, HC 818 (Session 2013–14), National Audit Office, TSO
Links: Report | Summary | NAO press release
Date: 2013-Dec
A report by a committee of MPs said that concerns had been raised about the operation of the Money Advice Service. It recommended that, rather than be reviewed by the Treasury, it should now be subject to an independent review.
Source: Money Advice Service, Seventh Report (Session 2013–14), HC 457, House of Commons Treasury Select Committee, TSO
Links: Report I | Report II | Telegraph report
Date: 2013-Dec
An article said that despite the United Kingdom's leading role in public management reform, and decades of continuous change, little had been learned of the final outcomes. There were inherent technical and methodological difficulties in evaluating complex major organizational change over time. It was unlikely that most executive politicians would invest energy in systematic evaluation. There were also specific institutional features of organizational reform in central government that tempted elites 'constantly to reinvent'.
Source: Christopher Pollitt, 'Forty years of public management reform in UK central government – promises, promises...', Policy & Politics, Volume 41 Number 4
Links: Abstract
Date: 2013-Dec
An article examined the regulation of abortion and IVF treatment services. The regulatory burden borne by IVF services was greater than in the case of abortion: but none of the explanatory theses could provide a justification of this phenomenon. The authors offered an alternative explanation based on factors including regulatory 'overspill'.
Source: Sebastian Sethe and Alison Murdoch, 'Comparing the burden: what can we learn by comparing regulatory frameworks in abortion and fertility services?', Health Care Analysis, Volume 21 Number 4
Links: Abstract
Date: 2013-Dec
A report examined the accountability of permanent secretaries in the United Kingdom civil service, and their relationship to secretaries of state. It said that many departments were well run, with good relationships between parties, but the existing system of accountability within Whitehall was opaque, with a lack of clarity around relative responsibilities and accountabilities. The report made proposals for reform.
Source: Akash Paun and Josh Harris, Accountability at the Top: Supporting effective leadership in Whitehall, Institute for Government
Links: Report | IFG press release
Date: 2013-Dec
A think-tank report examined the system of appointments to public bodies. It said that, in broad terms, the public appointments system was working satisfactorily. However, the report said that the existing measure of diversity (based around gender, ethnicity and disability) was too narrow and ignored aspects such as occupational and socio-economic diversity. It called for the scope of monitoring to be expanded, for an inquiry into special initiatives to encourage more people from 'routine and manual' occupations into public appointments, and for examination of the selection process.
Source: Michael Pinto-Duschinsky and Lynne Middleton, Reforming Public Appointments, Policy Exchange
Links: Report | Policy Exchange press release
Date: 2013-Dec
A report provided a review of the governance of local government ombudsman service. It recommended short and medium term institutional and governance changes, including a recommendation that consideration be given to the creation of a single public services ombudsman for England.
Source: Robert Gordon, Governance Review of the Local Government Ombudsman Service, Department for Communities and Local Government
Links: Report | DCLG press release
Date: 2013-Nov
A report examined the evidence on whistleblowing. It said that the Public Interest Disclosure Act 1998 provided whistleblowers some protection against reprisals from employers, but only after the fact. The report outlined barriers and attitudes to the use of whistleblowing powers, and made recommendations to the government that included a draft code of practice.
Source: The Whistleblowing Commission, Report on the Effectiveness of Existing Arrangements for Workplace Whistleblowing in the UK, Public Concern at Work
Links: Report | PCAW press release
Date: 2013-Nov
The National Audit Office issued a memorandum to government that outlined key issues related to government contracting. It raised questions about the way public service markets operated, whether public service contracts were sufficiently competitive, issues related to the profitability of contracts, and the monitoring of contractor performance. A second memorandum was published at the same time, which discussed more specifically the management of suppliers.
Source: The Role of Major Contractors in the Delivery of Public Services, HC 810 (Session 2013–14), National Audit Office, TSO
Links: Memorandum | Summary | Memorandum II | Summary II | NAO press release | CBI press release | PCS press release
Date: 2013-Nov
The watchdog for standards in public life said that measures were urgently required: to improve openness and transparency around lobbying; to provide greater clarity about expected standards; and to reassure the public that lobbyists would apply a more ethical approach to lobbying.
Source: Strengthening Transparency Around Lobbying, Committee on Standards in Public Life
Links: Report | Guardian report
Date: 2013-Nov
A report by a committee of peers examined the revision of the government's principles governing consultation. It raised concerns about the minimum consultation period, the timing of consultations, and the timing of the publication of consultation responses. The report concluded that too little progress had been made, and that the committee would continue to monitor the issue alongside its scrutiny of secondary legislation.
Source: The Government s Review of Consultation Principles, 17th Report (Session 2013–14), HL 75, House of Lords Secondary Legislation Scrutiny Committee, TSO
Links: Report
Date: 2013-Nov
A government department published a communications plan for 2013-14.
Source: Government Communications Plan 2013/14, Cabinet Office
Links: Report | Cabinet Office press release
Date: 2013-Oct
A government report set out an action plan for working towards the goals of the Open Government Partnership.
Source: Open Government Partnership UK National Action Plan 2013 to 2015, Cabinet Office
Links: Report | Cabinet Office press release
Date: 2013-Oct
A report by a committee of MPs examined the Spending Round 2013.
Source: Spending Round 2013, Third Report (Session 2013-14), HC 575, House of Commons Treasury Select Committee, TSO
Links: Report | Press release
Date: 2013-Oct