The work of the Public Administration Select Committee (PASC)

The work of the Public Administration Select Committee

(PASC)Bernard Jenkin MP

A very short history

• Established in 1997• Combined the remits of two committees– A committee on the Ombudsman– A committee on public service

• Chaired by– Rhodri Morgan (1997-1999)– Tony Wright (1999-2010)– Bernard Jenkin (2010 to date)

PASC’s remit

• “to examine the reports of the Parliamentary Commissioner for Administration and the Health Service Commissioner for England” (i.e. the ‘Ombudsman’) – “and matters in connection therewith”

• “to consider matters relating to the quality and standards of administration provided by civil service departments” – “and other matters relating to the civil service”

(House of Commons Standing Order No. 146)

A rough map of PASC’s remit

Who does UK National Strategy?

Strategic Thinking in Government

Follow up to the National Strategy inquiry

• How strategy is linked to policy-making• International examples• Lessons from business• The role of social media

Smaller Government: Shrinking the Quango State

• “A missed opportunity”• “Hopelessly unclear”• “Rushed and poorly handled”

Govt should have used this as an opportunity to transfer function to charities and mutuals

Big Society

Smaller Government:What do ministers do?

Change in Government: The Agenda for Leadership

Leadership of change: new arrangements for the roles of the Head of the Civil Service and the

Cabinet Secretary

Changes “could lead to weaker leadership and disperse power at a critical time of change in government”

• both attend Cabinet on equal terms• both must have access to the Prime Minister and the

authority “to speak truth unto power”

Government and IT- "A Recipe For Rip-Offs": Time For A New

Approach

• Over-reliant on an oligopoly of large contractors

• Lack of in-house skills

Result: A recipe for rip-offs

The Big Society

Government use of statistics and the UK Statistics Authority

The work of the Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman

The work of the Commissioner for Public Appointments and First

Civil Service Commissioner

The Administrative Justice and Tribunals Council

The work of the Business Appointment Rules and the

Advisory Committee on Business Appointments

A ‘revolving door’ between business and Whitehall?

• concern about the movement of personnel between the private sector and the civil service

• growing demand for civil servants with external expertise• civil service job losses• greater diversity of providers for public services

Future Work Programme

Six Principles of Good Governance

1. Leadership2. Performance3. Accountability4. Transparency5. Engagement6. Empowerment

The work of the Public Administration Select Committee

(PASC)Bernard Jenkin MP