Gove announces programme for government reform

Ministers and civil servants have announced an ambitious programme for government reform, to ensure the country builds back better from coronavirus.

The government says that the programme will rebalance government away from Whitehall, open up the Civil Service to fresh skills, talent and ideas, and embrace digital technology and data based decision-making.

A first ever joint meeting of the Cabinet and departmental Permanent Secretaries agreed the Declaration on Government Reform. Key parts of the reform declaration include: looking beyond London to all corners of the UK, relocating 22,000 civil service roles outside of the capital by 2030; investing in new training for both civil servants and ministers, strengthening traditional skills and building expertise in digital, data, science, and project and commercial delivery; and embracing digital technology and data to deliver better services, developing a single sign-on for online government services.

Gove, The Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, said: “It’s been a consistent feature of our history that the national weaknesses, fissures or fractures that have been laid bare or exacerbated by crises should be addressed with the same energy and single-mindedness required for a successful response to the crisis itself.

“It is precisely because the Covid crisis revealed weaknesses in our government and society, because it also showcased strengths, because it forced government to adapt and improve delivery, because the public demand we build back better and because we have knowledge now that we did not possess before that this government is determined to deepen and accelerate our programme of reform.”