WIREDGOV

Leadership, strategy and delivery in Government departments continue to improve because of Capability Reviews, the Cabinet Secretary will tell the annual Audit Commission lecture at HM Treasury this evening.

The latest set of results for the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS), the Department of Health (DH) and the Department for Transport (DfT) show that the reviews continue to drive improvements and make departments fit to meet the challenges of the 21st Century.

All three departments have shown an overall improvement, particularly in strengthening leadership. To build on these results, this evening at the Audit Commission lecture Sir Gus O’Donnell will unveil a new strengthened, Capability Review model for the future. He will say:

“One of the innovations I am most proud of since becoming Cabinet Secretary are the Capability Reviews. Three years in, it is clear these reviews have been the mechanism for delivering genuine reform across the Civil Service.

“But the way we assess our capabilities needs to evolve and remain relevant. The refreshed model gives greater emphasis to innovation, collaboration and delivery of results. I’m confident that it will continue to stretch departments and encourage the types of behaviours we will need in the Civil Service over the coming years.”

For the first time GCHQ was also assessed this year to ensure it is keeping pace with the changes in the wider Civil Service. Its report, which will be published alongside the others, highlights that GCHQ is ‘world-class’ in some areas and has a well-recognised and clear purpose and vision.

GCHQ Director Iain Lobban welcomed the publication:

"There's a risk for an organisation like GCHQ, whose work needs to be kept secret but which needs to remain at the cutting edge of technology, that it becomes insular and impervious to best practice from elsewhere in the public or private sectors.

"There's a very positive endorsement from the Review of much of what GCHQ is currently doing, including "world class signals intelligence activity". But there are also some important messages about areas we need to address in order to do better. I fully accept those and I'm determined to make progress and improve our performance further for the re-review in 2011."

Notes to Editors

1. The reports are published at http://www.civilservice. gov.uk/capabilityreviews

2. For queries concerning the Capability Review process, please contact the Cabinet Office Press Office on 020 7276 1273

3. Questions about the reviews of specific departments should be directed to departmental press offices.

CAB 055-09