Former Minister for the United Kingdom Cabinet Office, Baron Maude of Horsham is expected to lead a review into how the Public Service operates.
Media reports state Lord Maude (pictured), who presided over wide-ranging Public Service reforms between 2010 and 2015, is being lined up to carry out a review first promised in last June’s Declaration on Government Reform.
The Declaration pledged to carry out two reviews, one on “Civil Service governance, including consideration of the appropriate roles for senior officials, non-executive directors and Ministers”, and a second looking at “models of accountability for decisions”.
The latter review would, according to the Declaration, draw on “international best practice and experiences during the pandemic”, as well as considering the “role and design of Ministerial directions”.
The Financial Times newspaper reported that both reviews were delayed due to arguments over scope, with some Ministers saying a review should look at whether political appointees could lead Departments.
Lord Maude drew the ire of some Public Servants during his time as Minister for the Cabinet Office for a sweeping reform program aimed at improving Whitehall efficiency.
In 2013 he commissioned a report into Public Service accountability and responsiveness, carried out by think tank the Institute for Public Policy Research (IPPR).
That report paved the way for the creation of controversial Extended Ministerial Offices.
It allowed Ministers to create offices with hand-picked staff, bypassing normal recruitment rules, which the Government said would increase the amount of support available to the Ministers.
Lord Maude also oversaw major changes to the way Whitehall ran digital services and bought goods and services from the private sector.
The Government said the review into Public Service governance and accountability would take place this year.
“It will seek to learn from other countries, organisations outside the Civil Service, and from recent experiences in Government. Further information on this activity will be provided in due course,” an official told the Financial Times.
London, 7 June 2022
