Modernising Government

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		Action Plan

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Contents | Action Plan Introduction | Action Plan Table | Project Board


	Milestones

		Policy Making	White Paper Ref		Milestones	Contacts
Designing policy around shared goals and carefully defined results, not around organisational structures or existing functions
1		The Government will take action to encourage departments to work together and to focus on outcomes more sharply.	Pg 16 &18		CO (PIU) to complete study on how current accountability arrangements and incentive systems can be reformed to facilitate joined up government by October 1999. Government to draw up agreed Action Plan by January 2000.	Andrew Lean CO (PIU) 020 7270 1545 alean@cabinet-office.x.gsi.gov.uk
2		The Government will build on the foundation laid by the CSR to set clear priorities and a strategy for government as a whole and in the next review of public spending plans look for further areas where joint working and budgeting are appropriate.	Pg 17 & 20		Departments to put implementation plans in place to deliver PSA targets, by summer 1999. The Public Service Productivity Panel to complete its first round of projects by the end of 1999. Government to review, extend and improve PSAs in the public spending round in 2000, and to identify further areas for joint working and budgeting. Government to move to a resource based budgeting system in 2000.	Oliver Robbins (HM Treasury) 020 7270 5393 oliver.robbins@hm-treasury.gov.uk
3		Cabinet Office Centre for Management and Policy Studies (CMPS) to offer joint training to Ministers and civil servants and start an ongoing debate with them and other stakeholders about how policy making can be improved.	Pg 17 & 20		CO (CMPS) to draw up specification for induction training for new Ministers by July 1999. CO (CMPS) to organise pilot event on a specific policy issue by January 2000.	Robert Green CO (CMPS) 020 7270 5422 rgreen@cabinet-office.x.gsi.gov.uk
4		Government will introduce a process to assess whether departments' management systems are suitable for delivering the principles for modern policy making.	pg 20		CO (CMPS) to set up a system of departmental peer review of progress against the Modernising Government agenda by December 1999. Departments to complete first round of peer reviews by December 2000. CO (CMPS) to evaluate departmental peer review process by March 2001.	Robert Green CO (CMPS) 020 7270 5422 rgreen@cabinet-office.x.gsi.gov.uk
Avoiding imposing unnecessary burdens
5		Government decisions will be based on a careful appraisal of the benefits any measure seeks to achieve, the costs it entails and the cumulative burden of regulation on business. Businesses and other interested parties will be given ample opportunity to contribute. New drive to improve the effectiveness of existing government regulations and remove any unnecessary ones.	Pg 16 & 21		i) All Departments to have effective and auditable arrangements in place to ensure that high-quality Regulatory Impact Assessments are submitted to Ministers before decisions are taken on whether to recommend new policies or policy developments to colleagues - done, system in place May 1999. System in place to audit assessments by March 2000. ii) Where Ministers intend proposing policies that impose significant regulatory burdens, the Cabinet Office (Regulatory Impact Unit) should be consulted in advance. Assessments should include likely impact on a typical small business and the average business - done, system in place May 1999. iii) Government to introduce legislation to increase the flexibility of the Deregulation and Contracting Out Act in order to facilitate deregulatory action as soon as Parliamentary time allows.	i) & ii) Chris Hayes CO (RIU) 020 7270 6548 cwhayes@cabinet-office.x.gsi.gov.uk iii) Alison French CO (RIU) 020 7270 0414 afrench@cabinet-office.x.gsi.gov.uk
Involving others and using evidence in policy making
6		Government will involve early in the policy-making process devolved administrations, local government, and the voluntary and private sectors, and consult outside experts, those who implement policy and those affected by it.	Pg 16 and 19		Departments to report on how they are involving others in the policy-making process by October 1999.	Jeremy Cowper CO (MGS) 020 7270 5626 mjcowper@cabinet-office.x.gsi.gov.uk
7		Government will improve its use of evidence and research to strengthen decisions made in policy making.	Pg 17		i) Departments to contribute to and systematically draw upon research and underpinning evidence which support policy decisions. ii) OST to review the Chief Scientific Adviser's guidelines on the use of scientific advice in policy making by December 1999. iii) OST to publish implementation plan for Council of Science and Technology report on use of science and technology by government departments by Autumn 1999.	i) Robert Green CO (CMPS) 020 7270 5422 rgreen@cabinet-office.x.gsi.gov.uk ii) & iii) Mark Sinclair OST 020 7271 2123 mark.sinclair@osct.dti.gov.uk
Improving the way risk is managed
8		Government will assess, manage and communicate risk as part of the policy-making process. It is committed to the better promotion, co-ordination and implementation of risk best practice.	Pg 16		i) HMT to carry out a survey of current risk management practice in Departments and agencies and hold a conference to disseminate best practice - done June 1999. ii) Government to produce a public declaration on approach to managing risk by December 1999. iii) All departments to make public the framework and procedures they use for reaching decisions of the risk for which they are responsible by September 2000.	i) James Foreman Peck HMT 020 7270 4747 james.foreman@hm-treasury.gov.uk ii) & iii) Nicola Baker CO (RIU) 020 7270 1858 nbaker@cabinet-office.x.gsi.gov.uk
Becoming more forward and outward looking
9		Government will look beyond what it is doing now; improve and extend its contingency planning; learn lessons from other countries; integrate the EU and international dimensions into policy making.	Pg 16 and 18		i) Government to set up within the Cabinet Office the Centre for Management and Policy Studies as a source of ideas and knowledge on the latest ideas and thinking on evidence-based policy making, including international examples of good practice - done April 99. ii) OST to publish progress report on Foresight activity across Whitehall - done May 1999. iii) Foresight panels to consult on emerging ideas and outline proposals - November 1999-April 2000. iv) CO (PIU) to complete initial phase of project on long term strategic challenges facing the UK by early 2000. v) Government to integrate developing country concerns into policy issues that affect them - has already succeeded in promoting in the OECD the need for greater coherence in this regard across the range of its activities. vi) CO (CMPS) to set up ‘Insight Europe' training programme at the Civil Service College by September 1999.	i) Robert Green CO (CMPS) 020 7270 5422 rgreen@cabinet-office.x.gsi.gov.uk ii) & iii) Sephen Spivey OST 020 7215 6765 stephen.spivey@osct.dti.gov.uk iv) Kirstin Baker CO (PIU) 020 7238 2344 kbaker@cabinet-office.x.gsi.gov.uk v) David Sands Smith DfID 020 7917 0310 d-sands-smith@dfid.gov.uk vi) Margaret Batty CS College 01344 634594 batty@cscollege.gov.uk
Learning from experience
10		Government will make more use of pilot schemes to encourage innovation and test whether policies work.	Pg 17		Departments to report on use of pilot schemes to test alternative policy options by October 1999.	Jeremy Cowper CO (MGS) 020 7270 5626 mjcowper@cabinet-office.x.gsi.gov.uk
11		Government will ensure that all policies and programmes have clear specifications of what they are intended to achieve; are systematically evaluated; and the lessons of success and failure are disseminated and acted upon. Government will update existing evaluation tools to facilitate robust evaluation of complex cross-cutting policy areas.	Pg 17 and 20		i) HM Treasury to use stakeholder seminars to shape central guidance on evaluation (June 1999 to March 2000). ii) CO (CMPS) to develop new centre of expertise and advice on evaluation by December 2000. iii) CO (CMPS) to introduce peer review of evaluation by September 2000. iv) CO (CMPS) to publish first annual report on evaluation work and lessons learned from peer review by September 2001. v) CO (CMPS) to carry out two benchmarking exercises, comparing the UK policy-making process against examples from other countries by September 2001.	i) Rob Molan HMT 020 7270 4996 rob.molan@hm-treasury.gov.uk ii) - v) Robert Green CO (CMPS) 020 7270 5422 rgreen@cabinet-office.x.gsi.gov.uk
12		Government will promulgate good practice in policy making and develop a more government-wide, outcome focused culture	Pg 20		CO to complete audit of good practice; develop model of professional policy making and identify levers and incentives to bring about change by September 1999. CO (CMPS) to develop a programme of research into specific examples of good policy making to underpin the establishment of an accessible database of good practice by December 2000.	Alison French (CO) 020 7270 0414 afrench@cabinet-office.x.gsi.gov.uk Robert Green CO (CMPS) 020 7270 5422 rgreen@cabinet-office.x.gsi.gov.uk
Making sure policies are inclusive and services address the needs of particular groups
13		Government needs to understand better the range and diversity of people's needs and incorporate them into its thinking to enable it to devise policies that are fair and take full account of the experience of those affected by them. The Government is determined that public services should address the needs of particular groups, and will take steps to identify their views.	Pg 16, 19 20, 26 and Table Pg 40		i) CO (RIU) to produce impact assessment ‘checklist' for policy makers to ensure that they take account of all relevant impact and appraisal issues, including the impact on women, the environment, business and public health when considering policy proposals, by September 1999. ii) CO (RIU) to take the lead in providing training for policy makers on the full range of impact and appraisal systems by January 2000. iii) DETR to evaluate and promulgate lessons of pilot exercise to assess integrated appraisal techniques by December 1999.	i)& ii) Denise Bagge CO (RIU) 020 7270 6017 dbagge@cabinet-office.x.gsi.gov.uk iii) Russell Dixon DETR 020 7890 5936 russel_dixon@detr.gsi.gov.uk
	a) Older people		Pg 26	i) CO (MPS) to hold 9 ‘listening to older people' events by end October 1999. ii) CO (MPS) to publish final report on Better Government for Older People pilots by end December 2000. iii) 50% of all local authorities to have joined Better Government for Older People learning network by June 2000. iv) CO (PIU) to complete project on active ageing by Autumn 1999.		i)- iii) Ian Spurr CO (MPS) 020 7270 6424 ispurr@cabinet-office.x.gsi.gov.uk iv) Joy Hutcheon CO (PIU) 020 7270 5823 jhutcheon@cabinet-office.x.gsi.gov.uk
	b) Women		Pg 27	i) CO (Women's Unit) to publish report of Listening to Women exercise by end of October 1999. ii) CO (WU) and the Women's National Commission (Government's advisory body on women) to develop a ‘toolkit' for service design in the NHS, taking specific account of the needs of women, by the end of 1999. iii) CO (WU) to hold regular meetings of the Women's Policy Network, which aims to support those with responsibility for women's issues in Departments. iv) CO (WU) to develop a framework for gender impact assessment by the end of 1999.		i) Helene Reardon-Bond CO (Women's Unit) 020 7273 8832 hreardon@cabinet-office.x.gsi.gov.uk ii) Janet Veitch Women's National Commission 020 7238 0367 jveitch@cabinet-office.x.gsi.gov.uk iii) Mary Macdonald CO (Women's Unit) 020 7273 8843 mmcdonald@cabinet-office.x.gsi.gov.uk iv) Pat Terry CO (Women's Unit) 020 7273 8840 pterry@cabinet-office.x.gsi.gov.uk
	c) Race		Pg 27	i) The Government to extend race discrimination legislation to public services including law enforcement when Parliamentary time allows. ii) The Government to publish its response to the Commission for Racial Equality's review of the Race Relations Act - done July 1999. iii) The Government to publish its recruitment, retention and career progression targets for the Home Office and its services - the fire, prison and probation services - by end July 1999.		i) Ian Cheeseman (HO) 0207 273 3044 ii) Callton Young (HO) 020 7273 4182 iii) Jonathan Lane (HO) 020 7273 4486
	d) Disability		Pg 27	The Government to publish a Code of Practice on goods, facilities and services provisions of the Disability Discrimination Act for all service providers, including those in the public sector - done June 1999. The Government to implement the next stage of the DDA's goods, facilities and services provisions - including new requirements to be placed on service providers to make their services accessible to disabled people from 1 October 1999. The Disability Rights Task Force to report to the Government on comprehensive rights for disabled people, including their access to public services by the end of November 1999. The Government to establish a Disabled Rights Commission which will, amongst other things, advise public service providers on improving access for disabled people by April 2000. The Government to implement the final stage of the DDA's goods, facilities and services provisions. This will mean service providers making physical adjustments to help disabled people from 2004.		Antony Thompson (DfEE) 020 7273 5614 antony.thompson@dfee.gov.uk

	Responsive Public Services	WP Ref	Milestones	Contacts
14	The Government is committed to services which better meet people's needs, and which are available 24 hours a day, seven days a week where there is a demand.	Pg 23	CO (MPS) to find out public's demand for 24 hour/7 day services (using fourth wave of People's Panel) by December 1999.	Gloria Craig CO (MPS) 020 7270 6225 gcraig@cabinet-office.x.gsi.gov.uk
15	The Government will enable people to notify different parts of government of details such as a change of address simply and electronically in one transaction.	Pg 33	CO (MPS/CITU) to establish inter-departmental task force and draw up project plan - done June 1999. See commitment 40 for further action.	Jeremy Crump CO (CITU) 020 7238 2009 jcrump@cabinet-office.x.gsi.gov.uk
16	Government will consult on radical improvements in the provision of registration services.	Pg 32	ONS to launch consultation document - done July 1999. Responses invited by end October 1999. ONS to publish proposals by February 2000. ONS to implement changes, subject to legislative change by 2001/2.	Gwyn Hughes (ONS) 0151-471 4463 gwyn.hughes@ons.gov.uk
17	Government must consult and work with people, using the People's Panel for example, rather than imposing solutions.	Pg 25	CO (MPS) to continue to use the People's Panel to get users' views to help identify areas for improvement. CO (MPS) to publish third wave of results - done July 1999. CO (MPS) to publish fourth wave of results by December 1999.	Tony Singleton CO (MPS) 020 7270 6274 tsingleton@cabinet-office.x.gsi.gov.uk
18	Government will build in the views of customers when measuring the progress that Departments are making against their performance targets in their PSAs.	Pg 25	i) CO (MPS) to consult agencies and external bodies - done June 1999. ii) CO/HMT to develop and publish measures of customer satisfaction with public services by Autumn 1999. iii) CO/HMT with Departments to extend the scope of consumer based PSA targets in the next review of public spending plans in 2000.	i) Tony Singleton CO (MPS) 020 7270 6274 tsingleton@cabinet-office.x.gsi.gov.uk ii) & iii) Oliver Robbins (HMT) 020 7270 5393 oliver.robins@hm-treasury.gov.uk
Partnership
19	Government will implement a community planning process so that local authorities and other local public bodies can adopt a common and co-ordinated approach to meeting local needs.	Pg 32	Government to implement as soon as legislative opportunity arises.	Mark Barnett (DETR) 0207 890 4185 mark_barnett@detr.gsi.gov.uk
20	The Government will spend �230 million over the next three years through the Invest to Save Budget to fund projects that involve two or more public bodies getting together to deliver services in an innovative and more efficient manner. It will launch a second round of bids that will be available to the wider public sector. As part of this we will align expenditure which supports IT investment from the ISB with the corporate IT strategy for government.	Pg 31, 32 & 47	CO/HMT to launch Round 2 of ISB - done April 1999. Formal bids to be received by September/October 1999. CO/HMT to announce allocations January 2000. CO/HMT to make decisions on Round 3 by April 2000. CO/HMT to allocate �230 million on joint projects that deliver these aims by 2002.	Robin Owen CO (MPS) 020 7270 6172 rowen@cabinet-office.x.gsi.gov.uk & Rob Molan HMT 020 7270 4996 rob.molan@hm-treasury.gov.uk
21	The Government will tackle the barriers to joint working identified by the Integrated Service Teams.	Pg 32	CO (MPS) to set up inter-departmental Steering Group and five specific Service Action Teams (SATs) to follow up the lessons learned from the Integrated Service Teams - done June 1999. CO (MPS) to produce action plan by September 1999.	John Cairncross CO (MPS) 020 7270 6278 jcairncross@cabinet-office.x.gsi.gov.uk
22	Government will act on the PIU study on the way central government is organised and delivers services at regional and local level.	Pg 32	CO (PIU) to complete report by Autumn 1999.	Daniel Instone CO (PIU) 020 7270 1554 dinstone@cabinet-office.x.gsi.gov.uk
23	The Government will work to align geographical boundaries and will review progress in 2002.	Pg 33	CO (MPS) to publish interim review of progress by December 2000. CO (MPS) to review progress by 2002.	John Cairncross CO (MPS) 020 7270 6278 jcairncross@cabinet-office.x.gsi.gov.uk
24	The Government will set up a Measurement and Performance Project, based on a network of local partnerships, to look at the impact of performance measures on partnerships. It will publish proposals in October 2000 to improve this and streamline information management in the public sector. During the course of this project, the network will also spread existing best practice.	Pg 32	CO (MPS) to launch project - done April 1999. CO (MPS) to publish interim report by November 1999. CO (MPS) to produce recommendations for improving government performance management frameworks and guidance on using measures in multi-agency partnerships by October 2000.	Kathryn Packer CO (MPS) 020 7270 6271 kpacker@cabinet-office.x.gsi.gov.uk
25	Government will develop a more co-ordinated approach to property management. Property Advisers to the Civil Estate (PACE) will take on a stronger role in ensuring a joined-up approach in central government and will work with local government and its representatives to achieve a more co-ordinated approach across the public sector.	Pg 33	CO (PACE) to produce initial report on best use of property across public sector by September 1999. CO (PACE) to complete feasibility study into shared database by end December 1999.	John Cliff CO (PACE) 020 7271 2623 jncsc@property.gov.uk
26	Government will review the organisation of the public sector ombudsmen in England.	Pg 32	CO (Central Secretariat) to launch review - done March 1999. Review Team to produce report by end December 1999.	Alastair Howie CO (Central Secretariat) 020 7270 1891 ahowie@cabinet-office.x.gsi.gov.uk

	Quality Public Services	WP Ref	Milestones	Contacts
Effectiveness
27	Government Departments and agencies will follow the six service standards, and will set new targets to improve correspondence handling across central government.	Pg 25	CO (MPS) to publish performance tables for financial year 1998/99 - done July 1999. CO (MPS) to run interdepartmental workshop to identify and share best practice by September 1999. Government to have new service standards in place by October 1999.	Peter Tallantire CO (MPS) 020 7270 1965 pgtallan@cabinet-office.x.gsi.gov.uk
28	The Government will monitor Public Service Agreements (PSAs) and report on their effectiveness, building on the principles of performance management.	Pgs 36 & 37	HMT to establish regular monitoring system for PSA performance by July 1999. Departments to report on progress against PSA targets annually, starting in March 2000.	Oliver Robbins (HMT) 020 7270 5393 oliver.robbins@hm-treasury.gov.uk
29	Government will change its approach to reviewing its agencies and NDPBs (quangos), publish guidance on the new approach in the autumn and will develop the role of agency and NDPB annual reports.	Pg 42	i) CO (MPS) to launch consultation - done June 1999. ii) CO (MPS) to publish guidance on new-style reviews by October 1999. iii) CO (MPS) to publish first new style report on NDPB performance by December 1999. iv) CO (MPS) to publish first new style report on agency performance by March 2000. v) 25 new style quinquennial reviews to have taken place by April 2001.	i), ii), & v) Robin Owen CO (MPS) 020 7270 6172 rowen@cabinet-office.x.gsi.gov.uk iii) & iv) Peter Hawthorne CO (MPS) 020 7270 6286 pthawtho@cabinet-office.x.gsi.gov.uk
30	a) Over the next five years, the Government will review all central government department services and activities to identify the best supplier in each case. PSX will monitor the performance of Departments in delivery of Better Quality Services (BQS).	Pg 40 & 41	CO (MPS) to set up a forum for BQS managers - done May 1999. Ministers to agree final plans by October 1999. 100% of government activities to be reviewed by 2004/5.	Bryan Avery CO (MPS) 020 7270 5255 bavery@cabinet-office.x.gsi.gov.uk
	b) The Government will set a framework for fundamental review over a five-year cycle of all local authority services, requiring local authorities to demonstrate that they have achieved best value, and are providing for continuous improvements in services.	Pg 40 & 41	Royal Assent to Local Government Bill 1998 by July 1999. DETR to prepare statutory guidance by Autumn 1999. Full implementation of duty of best value by April 2000.	David Lamberti DETR 020 7890 5139 david_lamberti@detr.gsi.gov.uk Richard Footitt DETR 020 7890 4070 richard_footitt@detr.gsi.gov.uk
31	Government will get rid of unnecessary or outdated statutory burdens on public services that prevent them from delivering a modern service.	Pg 38	Government to introduce legislation to increase the flexibility of the Deregulation and Contracting Out Act in order to facilitate deregulatory action as soon as Parliamentary time allows.	Alison French (CO) 020 7270 0414 afrench@cabinet-office.x.gsi.gov.uk
32	Government will work with the Public Audit Forum to find ways of encouraging more modern and effective forms of service delivery. Government will collaborate with the Audit Commission and inspectorates to develop principles of public inspection and will set up a new Best Value Inspectorate Forum in the summer to encourage closer working between inspectorates.	Pg 37, 43	i) CO (PIU) to complete study on accountability and audit by October 1999. ii) PAF to publish paper on implications for audit of the Modernising Government agenda - done April 1999. iii) DETR to launch the new Best Value Inspectorate Forum to provide support to the new audit and inspection arrangement under Best Value - done July 1999. iv) CO (MPS) to put proposals to Public Audit Forum on how to ensure that the audit implications of Modernising Government are reflected in public sector managers' and auditors' working practices by September 1999.	i) Andrew Lean CO (PIU) 020 7270 1545 alean@cabinet-office.x.gsi.gov.uk ii & iv) Robin Owen CO (MPS) 020 7270 6172 rowen@cabinet-office.x.gsi.gov.uk (iii) Caroline Eagle (DETR) 020 7890 4133 caroline_eagle@detr.gsi.gov.uk & Robin Owen CO (MPS) 020 7270 6172 rowen@cabinet-office.x.gsi.gov.uk
Quality and Innovation
33	Government will encourage public sector organisations to adopt the Excellence Model, Charter Mark or one of the other main quality management schemes.	Pg 42	i) Government target for 1350 Charter Mark applications by September 1999. ii) Government target for 2000 Charter Mark self-assessments by December 1999. iii) Government target for 500 new organisations registered as Excellence Model starters by March 2000. iv) 100% of all civil service organisations to acquire Investors in People status by December 1999. v) The Modernising Government Quality Schemes Task Force to report on how the different quality schemes can work together in the public sector to enhance their overall impact by December 1999. vi) CO (MPS) to establish new scheme to encourage Charter Mark holders and high-scoring users of the EM to stage open days for peer organisations. Scheme to be announced in October 1999. First open days held by March 2000.	i) ii) v) & vi) Steve O'Leary CO (MPS) 020 7270 6306 soleary@cabinet-office.x.gsi.gov.uk iii) Bryan Avery CO (MPS) 020 7270 5255 bavery@cabinet-office.x.gsi.gov.uk iv) Peter Jones CO (LSD) 020 7270 5803 prjones@cabinet-office.x.gsi.gov.uk
34	Government will launch a sponsored competition this year, based on the criteria of the Excellence Model, to encourage good practice in partnership working.	Pg 43	CO (MPS) to identify competition sponsor - done June 1999. CO (MPS) to launch competition September 1999. First annual awards presented April 2000.	Peter Hawthorne CO (MPS) 020 7270 6286 pthawtho@cabinet-office.x.gsi.gov.uk
35	Government will promote the spread of best practice in service delivery through: quality networks, new and revised charters, a programme of charter audits, and a new web site, which will include a database of good practice examples.	Pg 43	CO (MPS) to establish new Best Practice Website - done July 1999. CO (MPS) to complete first charter audit - done May 1999. CO (MPS) to complete further audit by November 1999. Departments to review all national charters by July 2001.	Peter Tallantire CO (MPS) 020 7270 1965 pgtallan@cabinet-office.x.gsi.gov.uk
36	Government will bring together front-line staff from across the public sector in a regular forum with senior policy makers at the centre of government, and with Ministers, to ensure that policies can take better account of operational experience.	Pg 43	CO (MPS) to hold one workshop with front-line staff by April 1999, and a further three by March 2000.	Peter Tallantire CO (MPS) 020 7270 1965 pgtallan@cabinet-office.x.gsi.gov.uk
37	The Government will set up Learning Labs both at local level and nationally.	Pg 61	CO (MPS) to set up pilot lab by December 1999.	Peter Tallantire CO (MPS) 020 7270 1965 pgtallan@cabinet-office.x.gsi.gov.uk Curt Griffith (CSCM) 020 7270 6260 cgriffith@cabinet-office.x.gsi.gov.uk

	Information Age Government	WP Ref	Milestones	Contacts
Corporate IT Strategy
38	The Government will develop a corporate IT strategy, including key objectives for managing, authenticating and identifying data, frameworks for specific technologies where stronger co-ordination is needed, ensuring that government acts as a champion of electronic commerce, using the GSI to boost cross-departmental working and to make the public sector work more coherently and strengthening the protection of privacy and human rights while providing a clear basis for sharing data between departments.	Pg 46, 47	All Departments to appoint senior officials at Board level in to champion the Information Age Government agenda - done May 1999. CO (CITU) to hold first meeting of this Champions Group- done July 1999. CO (CITU) to publish high level strategy document, setting out the Government approach on managing, authenticating and identifying data and providing frameworks for specific technologies by March 2000. CO (CITU) to produce subordinate documents from Autumn 1999 which will outline frameworks for use of: Call centres by November 1999. Smartcards by December 1999. Digital TV by December 1999. Websites by November 1999. Data standards by October 1999. CO to relaunch open.gov site, providing gateway to government websites making government easier to access, more customer friendly and technically more efficient (for example by using a new search engine) by Spring 2000.	Jeremy Crump CO (CITU) (for strategy) 020 7238 2009 jcrump@cabinet-office.x.gsi.gov.uk Leah Horman, CO CITU (for Champions Group) 020 7238 2029 lhorman@cabinet-office.x.gsi.gov.uk
39	The Government has set new targets for electronic delivery of government services: 50% of dealings with government should be capable of electronic delivery by 2005 and 100% by 2008. By March 2001, 90% by value of low value purchases by central government will be carried out electronically.	Pg 52	i) CO (CITU) to pubish first six monthly report on progress against the targets - done May 1999. Thereafter CO (CITU) to publish six-monthly progress reports until October 2002. ii) CO (CITU) to carry out an assessment of the preparedness of departments to deliver Information Age services by November 1999. Departments to audit their service provision and report to CITU by March 2000. iii) Departments to include targets for electronic delivery of services in their Public Service Agreement from 1999.	i) & ii) Jeremy Crump, CO (CITU) 020 7238 2009 jcrump@cabinet-office.x.gsi.gov.uk iii) Rob Molan, HMT 0202-2704996 rob.molan@hm-treasury.gov.uk
40	The Government will link the widest possible range of government services and information through electronic government gateways or portals.	Pg 51,	i) CO (CITU) to commission detailed consultancy study for government portal - completed June 1999. ii) CO (CITU) to establish interdepartmental task force and draw up project plan - done June 1999. iii) CO (CITU) to set up a portal demonstrator to provide a limited demonstration of how a portal might function - by end December 1999. iv) CO (CITU) to set up prototype portal that will facilitate authentication, payment and a simple prototype "one stop shop" Change of Address capability across a limited range of departments - by end July 2000.	i) - iv) Mark Gladwyn, CO (CITU) 020 7238 2010 mgladwyn@cabinet-office.x.gsi.gov.uk i) - iv) Jeremy Crump, CO (CITU) 020 7238 2009 jcrump@cabinet-office.x.gsi.gov.uk
41	The Government will benchmark progress against targets for electronic service delivery, and against the best performance in the private sector and in other countries.	Pg 47	CO (CITU) to benchmark other governments and report on private sector and international performance: interim report by end 1999.	Ann Steward, CO (CITU) 020 7238 2008 asteward@cabinet-office.x.gsi.gov.uk
42	The Government will continue to work closely with business both bilaterally and through the Information Age Partnership and associated groups.	Pg 47	The Industry Consultative Committee (ICC) to review the draft Government IT strategy in March 2000.	Ann Steward, CO CITU 020 7238 2008 asteward@cabinet-office.x.gsi.gov.uk
Wider Public Sector
43	The Government will establish a Central/Local Information Age Government Concordat. The Government will begin discussions with local government and its representatives on local authorities setting and publishing their own targets for electronic delivery of services. The Government will incorporate information age government objectives into the approach for Best Value and beacon councils, and into agency framework documents.	Pg 47, 49, 52	i) Central Local Partnership to endorse and sign Central/Local IAG Concordat - done July 1999. ii) CO (CITU) to agree process with the Local Government Association for target setting within local authorities by December 1999. iii) CO (CITU) to update National Inventory Project details of exemplar IT projects on public website by December 1999. iv) CO (CITU) to ensure that consideration of agency targets in quinquennial review process includes ensuring that they are fully aligned with information age government objectives.	i) - iii) William Barker, CO (CITU) 020 7238 2054 wbarker@cabinet-office.x.gsi.gov.uk iv) Jeremy Crump, CO (CITU) 020 7238 2009 jcrump@cabinet-office.x.gsi.gov.uk
44	The Government will legislate to ensure legal equivalence between digital and paper & pen signatures and work with the financial institutions and others so that their digital signature products can be used to enable government transactions.	Pg 50	Government to introduce the E-commerce Bill as soon as there is a legislative opportunity.	Stephen Pride, DTI 020 7215 1429 stephen.pride@ciid.dti.gov.uk
45	The Government will make information about regulations more accessible from a single source and increase greatly the scope for businesses to respond electronically to demands for information from government.	Pg 51	CO (RIU) to set up Infoshop pilot system in 16 local authorities to enable front-line staff to resolve complex customer queries on regulatory issues at the first point of contact by September 1999. CO (RIU) to report on the results of the pilot by Spring 2000.	Roger Wilshaw CO (RIU) 020 7270 6012 rwilshaw@cabinet-office.x.gsi.gov.uk
GSI
46	By the end of the year, all Departments should be participating in the GSI. Government will establish secure onward links to local authorities, hospitals and post offices. The Government will provide the IT base for government to work as a learning organisation and develop a range of applications on the GSI to support effective working across departmental boundaries. The Government will use the GSI as a platform for management of electronic government records.	Pg 47	i) All central departments to be connected to GSI by the end of 1999. ii) CITU/CESG to develop basis for further development of security in GSI to provide secure remote access and authenticated communications with third parties such as local authorities. iii) CO (CITU) to provide new services for government functions including for purchasing. On-line catalogues including G-CAT to be available by September 1999. News and information services to be developed and delivered service-wide via the GSI by end December 1999. iv) CO (CITU) to produce Code of Practice for suppliers to GSI by December 1999. v) Public Record Office to take forward EROS project which will enable departments to manage government records electronically.	i) - iv) Mark Gladwyn, CO (CITU) 020 7238 2010 mgladwyn@cabinet-office.x.gsi.gov.uk i) - iv) Ian Baker, CO (CITU) 020 7238 2032 ibaker@cabinet-office.x.gsi.gov.uk v) Sarah Tyacke, PRO 0208-392 5220 sarah.tyacke@pro.gov.uk
47	The Government will address concerns about privacy and will demonstrate that data protection is an objective of information age government, not an obstacle to it. The Government will: Work closely with the Data Protection Registrar to ensure that privacy implications of electronic service delivery are fully addressed. Carry through our commitment to openness, so that the citizen has relevant information about our initiatives as they are developed and implemented. Promote specific codes of practice, on a departmental or inter-departmental basis, for information age government. Benefit from the Data Protection Registrar's powers to conduct independent assessments of the processing of personal data. Deploy privacy-enhancing technologies, so that data is disclosed, accessed or identified with an individual only to the extent necessary. Provide a proper and lawful basis for data sharing where this is desirable, for example in the interest of improved service or fraud reduction consistent with our commitment to protect privacy.	Pg 51	Government to produce high level statement setting out how the data protection principles will be applied in modernised government by March 2000. CO to hold joint conference with the Data Protection Registrar on the statement and on Privacy Enhancing Technologies by spring 2000. Departments to draw up operational codes as new services are launched.	Jeremy Crump, CO (CITU) 020 7 238 2009 jcrump@cabinet-office.x.gsi.gov.uk
48	The Government will ensure as simple a set of transactions for the citizen as possible, avoiding duplication of effort by Departments and achieving best value for our investment. We will explore how we might promote social inclusion by encouraging greater use of the banking system. In support of these aims we propose: To promote access to and use of personal accounts, managed by banks and other institutions, by as broad a section of society as possible. To adopt as an aim across government that payments should usually be made into an account of the citizen's choice. To examine whether greater data sharing between Departments, agencies and local government will help them to provide easier financial dealings with citizens.	Pg 51	CO (CITU) to complete scoping study by March 2000.	Jeremy Crump, CO (CITU) 020 7238 2009 jcrump@cabinet-office.x.gsi.gov.uk

	Valuing Public Service	WP Ref	Milestones	Contacts
The CS Management Committee will develop a more cross-cutting approach to achieving cross-cutting goals and provide the leadership needed to drive cultural change in the civil service. It will ensure that the principles of better policy making are translated into staff selection, appraisal, promotion, posting and pay systems. The key mechanism for this will be four groups set up to examine ‘vision and common principles', ‘bringing in and bringing on talent', ‘performance management' and ‘diversity'. The outcome of their work will form a major part of the report on modernisation of the civil service due in the autumn (action point 57). Central government will be working with the wider public sector, including local government, the armed forces, the health service, education, to ensure that the principles set out in the Modernising government White Paper become an integral part of the way the public sector is managed.
Vision and Common Principles
49	The Government will take forward the debate started by the Prime Minister into how to equip the public service for the 21st century.	Pg 61	Civil service management committee group on 'vision and common principles' to report by end September 1999.	Alison Schofield, CO (CSCM) 020 7270 6316 aschofie@cabinet-office.x.gsi.gov.uk Gina Cole, CO (CSCM) 020 7270 6368 gcole@cabinet-office.x.gsi.gov.uk
Bringing In and Bringing On Talent
50	The Government will bring about more movement of people within the public services and with other sectors. It will increase the number of secondments and involve people from other organisations in projects. It will review the current interchange targets and change them. The Government will identify and remove the barriers to mobility and develop incentives for movement. Departments will set mobility targets, not just for the senior civil service, as now, but also for staff at more junior levels. The Government will bring more people into the civil service from outside. The Government will review recruitment criteria in the civil service to reflect current and future needs more closely. It will make it easier for people who want to join the civil service to find out about opportunities and to apply for them. The Government will invest in the development of public servants. Government will create opportunities for able, younger staff to be promoted to senior positions in the Civil Service more quickly. It will seek to increase participation in existing development schemes such as the in-service Fast Stream Development Programme and departmental schemes for under-represented groups. It will develop a new Public Service Manager Scheme. This will offer high potential staff both training and experience in a range of jobs across the service and in the wider public sector and outside government.	Pg 56, 55, 61, 62	i) Civil service management committee group on ‘bringing in and bringing on talent' to report by end September 1999. ii) Departments to set new targets for interchange and mobility - departments set new Interchange targets in May 1999 to be reviewed annually each March and in the light of the report of "talent" group. iii) CO (CSCM ) to revise recruitment criteria for fast stream programme - completed July 1999. iv) CO (CSCM) to establish single gateways to civil service recruitment e.g. website, marketing etc. by end 1999. v) CO (CSCM) to establish new Public Service Manager Scheme in accordance with the action plan produced by the Management Committee Group.	i) Judith Lempriere, CO (CSCM) 020 7270 5779 jlemprie@cabinet-office.x.gsi.gov.uk ii) Helen Caldwell, CO (CSCM) 020 7270 1842 hcaldwell@cabinet-office.x.gsi.gov.uk iii) Pat Harrison, CO (CSCM) 020 7270 5197 pharrison@cabinet-office.x.gsi.gov.uk iv) Madeline Hussey, CO (CSCM) 020 7270 5034 mhussey@cabinet-office.x.gsi.gov.uk v) Sam Mitha, CO (CSCM) 020 7270 5142 smitha@cabinet-office.x.gsi.gov.uk
Performance Management, Reward & Recognition
51	The Government will complete the review of delegated pay and grading systems in the civil service. It will recommend changes to systems to ensure pay is used more creatively to provide effective incentives - and minimise disincentives - for sustained high quality performance and particularly to encourage innovation, risk-taking, mobility, cross-cutting thinking, collaborative working and service delivery. The Government will ensure that non-pay incentives are used effectively to attract and reward staff. The Government will foster innovation and continuous improvement of services in the public sector by rewarding staff who suggest ideas that lead to savings or better services. Government Departments and agencies will introduce schemes which reward staff with a sliding scale percentage of any savings or improvements made as a result of their suggestions. The Government will look for new ways of rewarding organisation performance and success-sharing in the Civil Service, for example, by using team bonuses or by linking rewards to the achievement of performance or efficiency improvements. The Government will revise the core competencies for the senior civil service and in departments and agencies to reflect the qualities sought, including risk-taking, innovation, collaborative working, and project management.	Pg 56, 58, 59, 61, 62	i) Civil service management committee group on performance management to report by end September 1999. ii) CO (CSCM) to publish final report on pay and grading delegation in October 1999. iii) CO (CSCM) to issue guidance on new schemes to reward staff with percentage of savings resulting from their own suggestions in November 1999.First new schemes in place by April 2000. iv) CO (CSCM) to develop and publish new SCS competencies by March 2000.	i) Eleanor Goodison, CO (CSCM) 020 7270 6300 egoodison@cabinet-office.x.gsi.gov.uk ii) & iii) Richard Jarvis, CO (CSCM) 020 7270 6333 rjarvis@cabinet-office.x.gsi.gov.uk iv) David Mainwood, CO (CSCM) 020 7270 4624 dmmainw@cabinet-office.x.gsi.gov.uk
Diversity
52	The Government will set targets: a) for the representation of women, ethnic minorities and people with disabilities in the senior civil service; and b) in departments, for the representation of the same groups at levels below the senior civil service The Government will be a family-friendly employer.	Pg 59, 60, 62	i) Civil service management committee group on diversity to report by end September 1999. ii) CO (CSCM) to set targets for SCS by September 1999. iii) Departments to set targets below SCS by December 1999. iv) CO (CSCM) to set up family-friendly pilots in departments by September 1999 and review and publish lessons by January 2000. v) CO (CSCM) to publish Schneider-Ross report and develop action plans - done July 1999.	i) - iii) Alison Schofield, CO (CSCM) 020 7270 6316 aschofie@cabinet-office.x.gsi.gov.uk iv) - v) Giorgina Soane, CO (CSCM) 020 7270 6904 gsoane@cabinet-office.x.gsi.gov.uk
53	The Government will analyse lessons from the diversity pilots in the Home Office, the Inland Revenue and Customs & Excise and ensure the implications for management and personnel practices and ways of working are shared and applied throughout the civil service and the wider public service.	Pg 60	Government Departments to complete and review pilots to feed into diversity group report by September 1999. CO (CSCM) to disseminate lessons more widely by December 1999.	Alison Schofield, CO (CSCM) 020 7270 6316 aschofie@cabinet-office.x.gsi.gov.uk
Learning Organisation
54	The Civil Service is committed to a target that all its organisations will become accredited as Investors in People by the year 2000.	Pg 57	All civil service organisations committed to IiP Standard - done April 1999. All civil service organisations to be accredited as Investors in People by end December 1999.	Peter Jones, CO (CSCM) 020 7270 5803 prjones@cabinet-office.x.gsi.gov.uk
55	The civil service will develop and maintain a corporate training and development strategy which reflects the new National Learning Targets for qualifications.	Pg 57	i) Approval of Cabinet Office application to become the Central Government National Training Organisation under consideration by Recognition Panel July 1999. ii) CO (CSCM) to set up shadow NTO Council - done July 1999. iii) CO (CSCM) to survey departments and agencies to measure progress against the National Learning Targets for qualifications - by Autumn 1999. iv) CO (CSCM) to publish new civil service corporate training and development strategy and associated targets agreed under the post-Sunningdale Action Plan.	i) & ii) Curt Griffith, CO (CSCM) 020 7270 6260 cgriffith@cabinet-office.x.gsi.gov.uk iii) Peter Jones, CO (CSCM) 020 7270 5803 prjones@cabinet-office.x.gsi.gov.uk iv) Valerie Cain, CO (CSCM) 020 7270 5251 valcain@cabinet-office.x.gsi.gov.uk
Modernising the Civil Service
56	The Centre for Management and Policy Studies will establish mechanisms to ensure it keeps abreast of the latest developments in public governance and management nationally and internationally, acts as a repository of best practice and works closely with other public sector institutions (IDA, NCSL etc.) to share best practice and learn from each other.	Pg 20, 57, 62	CO (CMPS) to complete plans for (a) a new resource centre to support policy making and (b) a Government-wide ‘knowledge pool' to facilitate cross-Departmental policy discussion by December 1999. CO to identify good practice material by August 1999. CO (CMPS) to use identified good practice and White Paper thinking in new and redesigned training products, including special events for senior policy makers by December 1999.	Robert Green CO (CMPS) 020 7270 5422 rgreen@cabinet-office.x.gsi.gov.uk
57	The Government will publish a substantial progress report in the autumn on modernising the civil service.	Pg 62	CO (CSCM) to publish report, drawing on the work of the CSMC groups in Autumn 1999.	Sally Hinkley, CO (CSCM) 020 7270 4676 sallyhinkley@cabinet-office.x.gsi.gov.uk John Barker, CO (CSCM) 020 7270 6129 jbarker@cabinet-office.x.gsi.gov.uk
58	In the civil service, the Government will ensure that Permanent Secretaries and Heads of Department have personal objectives, on which their performance will be assessed, for taking forward the Government's modernisation agenda and ensuring delivery of the Government's key targets.	Pg 62	All Permanent Secretaries have set relevant objectives.	John Barker, CO (CSCM) 020 7270 6129 jbarker@cabinet-office.x.gsi.gov.uk
The Wider Public Sector
59	The Government will set up, before the summer, a Public Sector Employment Forum.	Pg 62	CO (CSCM) to establish new Forum with representatives from organisations including local government, NHS, teachers, police and hold first meeting - done July 1999.	Sam Mitha, CO (CSCM) 020 7270 5142 smitha@cabinet-office.x.gsi.gov.uk
60	The Government will work in partnership with the public service trade unions to achieve shared goals.	Pg 55, 62	CO (CSCM) has begun formal discussions with the Council of Civil Service Unions to explore the possibility of a strategic national level partnership agreement.	Richard Jarvis, CO (CSCM) 020 7270 6333 rjarvis@cabinet-office.x.gsi.gov.uk
Public Appointments
61	The Government will improve access to public appointments and take action to strengthen its capacity at the centre to identify and bring into public appointments people of talent and experience.	Pg 60, 61	CO (Central Secretariat) to revise publicity material for potential candidates by the end of the year.	Sabine Mosner, CO (Central Secretariat) 020 7270 5303 smosner@cabinet-office.x.gsi.gov.uk
62	The Government is committed in principle to equal representation of women and men in public appointments, and pro rata representation of members of ethnic minority groups, on the basis of merit. It will publish each year departmental action plans setting out how this commitment will be delivered in practice.	Pg 60, 61	CO (Central Secretariat) to publish Action Plans - done May 1999.	Sabine Mosner, CO (Central Secretariat) 020 7270 5303 smosner@cabinet-office.x.gsi.gov.uk

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