United Kingdom Cabinet Secretary, Simon Case has used a speech at Newcastle University to warn Public Servants they are jeopardising their survival if they do not embrace change.
Mr Case (pictured), who heads the Public Service, said the bureaucracy needed to “rise up from the defensive crouch” it had adopted to reform “too often in the past”.
Acknowledging the Government was “only in the foothills” of the Declaration on Government Reform proposals set out by then Minister for the Cabinet Office, Michael Gove in June, he said there was an urgent need for “rocket boosters” in Departmental data skills.
“Elements of the response to the COVID-19 pandemic have shown the Civil Service at its best — skilled, innovative, ambitious; more confident, more spirited; less risk averse; less hostage to process,” Mr Case said.
“However, it is also necessary to acknowledge weaknesses, such as cumbersome processes and siloed working, which have slowed officials down and hindered best practice, as well as confusion about who is responsible for what.”
His list of concerns also included failing to work consistently well across national and Local Government; missing the value of expertise on the ground; weaknesses in gathering, handling and presenting data; and a longstanding lack of specialist scientific and technical knowledge.
Mr Case said leading Whitehall historian, Lord Peter Hennessy had identified the years after World War II as a great missed opportunity for Government to hold on to lessons from its response to the conflict.
“It is vital for the current Government not to make the same mistake in the wake of the pandemic,” the Cabinet Secretary said.
London, 18 October 2021
