Twenty-Eighth Report - Efficiency in government

The government agrees with the recommendation, stating it has already been implemented through the SR21 Priority Outcomes and Metrics, which include tracking user sentiment. HM Treasury guidance and recent efficiency exercises also require departments to consider impacts on service users and demonstrate deliverable proposals.

The government agrees, stating the recommendation is already implemented. HM Treasury uses various mechanisms, including the Chief Secretary's engagement during SR21, spending control processes, and Outcome Delivery Plans, to challenge and test the realism of departmental savings and efficiency proposals.

The government agreed with the recommendation, outlining several actions to improve civil service skills and capability, including allocating £26 million to a Leadership College, improving functional skills training with specific targets, creating a Government Consulting Hub, launching a Finance Career Framework, improving spending team skills, and implementing capability-based pay for senior civil servants. The Cabinet Office will provide an update in May 2022.

The government agrees and states the recommendation is already implemented through Outcome Delivery Plans (ODPs), which track outcomes, costs, and benefits of efficiency plans. ODPs cover 2022-2025, with regular reporting and integration with existing financial monitoring and major projects assurance.

The government accepted the recommendation, committing to closer collaboration with Government Functions, regularising links between functional experts and Treasury teams, and outlining plans for writing to the Committee in Summer 2022. It also highlighted the Declaration on Government Reform and its implementation to instil a continuous improvement culture.

The government accepted an inferred recommendation about planning for crises and ensuring efficiency plans don't impede them. It highlighted existing flexibility, new Outcome Delivery Plan guidance for 2022-23, a new forecasting framework, revised AO assessment guidance, and committed to a fuller assessment of lessons learned later in the year.

The government agreed with the committee's recommendation (quoted in the response) that HM Treasury needs to ensure plans are adequately challenged, testing realism and using pilots. It described implementing this by leading engagement to test departmental proposals, developing Outcome Delivery Plans, enhancing financial reporting, and planning to share best practices based on successful pilots.

The government agreed with the committee's recommendation (quoted in the response) that HM Treasury needs to ensure plans are adequately challenged, testing realism and using pilots. It outlined implementation through testing departmental savings proposals, developing Outcome Delivery Plans, enhancing financial reporting, and sharing best practices based on successful pilots.

The government accepted the recommendation, outlining several initiatives like a new curriculum, Finance Career Framework, and capability-based pay for Senior Civil Service to build capability. The Cabinet Office committed to providing an update in May 2022.

The government agreed with the committee's recommendation (quoted in the response) regarding HM Treasury and Cabinet Office ensuring sufficient skills and capability. It outlined specific actions including establishing a Leadership College, improving functional skills training with targets, creating a Government Consulting Hub, developing the Finance Career Framework, improving spending team skills, and implementing capability-based pay, with an update to be provided in May 2022.

The government agreed with the committee's recommendation (implied by the conclusion's content) to build internal capability, outlining specific actions such as allocating £26 million to a Leadership College, improving functional skills training with targets, creating a Government Consulting Hub, developing the Finance Career Framework, and implementing capability-based pay. The Cabinet Office will provide a progress update in May 2022.

The government agreed with the committee's recommendation that the Cabinet Office and Treasury should use Outcome Delivery Plans (ODPs) to track the costs and benefits of efficiency plans. It stated ODPs for 2022-2025 are being produced to provide ongoing departmental performance pictures, supported by business case processes, IPA assurance for major projects, and monthly monitoring by Treasury spending teams.

The government agreed with the committee's recommendation that HM Treasury and Cabinet Office should instill a culture of continuous improvement. It outlined plans for HM Treasury to collaborate closely with Government Functions on efficiencies and to provide written plans to the Committee by summer 2022, alongside the ongoing implementation of the Declaration on Government Reform through various initiatives.