CABINET OFFICE News
Release (CAB 025-07) issued by The Government News Network on 27
March 2007
Cabinet Secretary,
Sir Gus O'Donnell, today announced publication of five more
Capability Reviews alongside a summary report on the key themes
emerging from all twelve Reviews published so far. Reviews were
published for the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, Ministry of
Defence and Departments for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs,
International Development and Culture, Media and Sport. By the
summer - a year into the programme - 15 reports will have been
published covering nearly 80 per cent of the Civil Service.
Speaking to public service leaders, academics and representatives
of front line public service delivery at the Public Services
Reform Conference 2007 in London he said:
'The Civil Service is a small but vital part of the broader
public sector. Capability Reviews are about ensuring we keep our
side of the reform bargain.
'This next stage of reform is about increasing our
capability to meet the challenges of the future. To do this we
need to develop the skills to deliver better services to those who
use and pay for them, and to influence our partners at home and
abroad in pursuit of shared goals. The reviews will help us get there'
Capability Reviews were announced for all Government departments
in October 2005 and are robust, evidence based assessments of
Departments' capabilities to meet significant future
challenges. Reviews have already been published for the Home
Office, Cabinet Office and Departments for Constitutional Affairs,
Education and Skills, Work and Pensions, Trade and Industry and
Communities and Local Government.
Each of the five reports published today includes a formal
assessment of departmental capability in ten key areas and a
response from the respective Permanent Secretary outlining which
actions they intend to take as a result.
ENDS
Notes for editors:
1. The Capability Reviews and summary reports are published at http://www.civilservice.gov.uk/capabilityreviews.
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