Cabinet Office

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Ministerial Department
The Cabinet Office is a ministerial govt department, supporting the Prime Minister and the Cabinet, which has 21 ministers selected by the Prime Minister. It is supported by 23 agencies and public bodies.
Contact
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Cabinet OfficeWikipedia-W.svg
< HM Government < Cabinet Office

Contents

The Cabinet Office is composed of various units that support #Cabinet Committees, and which co-ordinate the delivery of govt objectives via other departments. It is also the corporate headquarters for govt, in partnership with HM Treasury.ref Cabinet of the United KingdomWikipedia-W.svg

The Minister for the Cabinet OfficeWikipedia-W.svg is an unpaid position, which has no statutory footing or recognition; therefore office holders are appointed to a sinecure office to secure a seat at cabinet and a salary.
Cabinet ministers are heads of govt departments, mostly with the office of "Secretary of State for [function; eg, Defence]".

Executive Office

Prime Minister's Office

10 Downing Street § Prime Minister's OfficeWikipedia-W.svg The Prime Minister's Office, aka "Downing Street" and "No.10", is sited within the 10 Downing Street building. It is staffed by a mix of career Civil Servants and Special Advisers. The highest ranking Civil Servant position is the Principal Private Secretary to the Prime Minister; the most senior Special Adviser post is the Downing Street Chief of Staff. Although Number 10 is formally part of the Cabinet Office, it reports directly to the Cabinet Secretary.

Number 10 Policy Unit

Number 10 Policy UnitWikipedia-W.svg

No. 10 Policy Unit

aka Downing Street Policy Unit.

  • Sept.30.2016: Who is Who in Theresa May’s Downing Street. The Downing Street Policy Unit will play an essential role in defining ‘Mayism’ and delivering on the Prime Minister’s wish to deliver significant domestic reform as well as a successful exit from the EU. The unit has been reorganised so rather than having a Downing Street adviser shadowing departments, the team will be organised thematically, covering issues such as social justice, security, devolution, industrial strategy and regional growth, as well as EU issues. Andrew Smith, The Debate.
  • May.21.2015: Camilla Cavendish to head Number 10 policy unit. As British politics becomes more presidential, the structure of Number 10 matters more and more. David Cameron values continuity, collegiality and calmness in his senior team. James Forsyth, The Spectator.
  • Oct.15.2013: Three new recruits due at Number 10's Policy Unit. Three replacements are required after Jesse Norman was sacked over the Syria vote. In last week's reshuffle, MPs George Eustice and Jane Ellison were handed ministerial jobs in DEFRA and Health respectively. Three Tory MPs will join Jo Johnson's team generating Conservative policies for 2015. Other members of the Board include Tory veterans like former Cabinet minister Peter Lilley, and newcomers who were first elected in 2010 such as Jake Berry and Margot James. The Unit was set up earlier this year in an attempt to create a more "Thatcher-style" policy unit at the centre of govt run by politicians rather than civil servants. Chris Ship, ITV News.

Ministerial Departments

  • Office of the Leader of the House of Commons
  • Office of the Leader of the House of Lords

Non-Ministerial departments

See main article: UK Statistics Authority

Executive Agencies

Crown Commercial Service

  • Crown Commercial ServiceWikipedia-W.svg, Gov.uk Webpage, crowncommercial.gov.uk
  • Feb.2021: Accenture, Capita and IBM were awarded spots on an £800m framework created to help the NHS shift to a more agile and/or DevOps-like approach to development and support. They joined Aire Logic, BJSS, Cognizant, Hippo Digital, Infinity Works Consulting, Informed Solutions, Kainos Software, Mastek and Netcompany on the contracting arrangement intended to build and manage live NHS services and oversee data system migration under the "Digital Capability for Health" scheme.[1]
  • Feb.2021: A £2bn contract award for "Digital Outcomes and Specialists" was made as part of a one-year framework agreement. The deals were developed to attract suppliers to "help research, test, design, build, release, iterate, support or retire a digital service", and are to be made available to UK public-sector bodies. The winners were: Shoreditch-based Browser London Ltd;OpenCorporates-sm.svg Xonetic Ltd;OpenCorporates-sm.svg Super User Studio LtdOpenCorporates-sm.svg in the City of London; and Nottingham-based Users Needs Ltd,OpenCorporates-sm.svg whole sole employee is a former researcher from HMRC.[2]
  • 2017-2018: The Crown Commercial Service were awarded a contract during the year to operate the Office Solutions Category Tower within NHS Supply Chain. This contract is worth £3.1m over three years from Oct.2017.[3]
  • Dec.17.2017: Havas UK, FCB Inferno, Ogilvy & Mather among agencies selected to pitch for govt campaigns. The govt announced a final list of agencies from across the UK that have been selected to help deliver its campaigns over the next 4 years. The Crown Commercial Service has developed the new "Campaign Solutions" framework, which will allow more collaborative working between govt and agencies. The Govt Communications Service published the list of agencies, will now be eligible to bid for and deliver campaigns on topics ranging from public health to teacher recruitment and promoting apprenticeships. The expected value of the framework is up to £350m over 4 years. Natalie Mortimer, The Drum.

Government Property Agency

Went live on Mar.01.2018.ref. The Sponsor Team is based within the Office of Government Property, in the Cabinet Office ref. The 2015 Budget Statement announced changes to the way Civil Service property will be managed; will see a new commercially-driven approach to land and property asset management across the central govt estate. The GPA'a primary vision is to mirror a commercial property organisation by strengthening commercial incentives and implementing cross-govt strategies. The Director General of Government Property will advise the Minister and PAO on the performance of the GPA against its strategic objectives... The GPA Board is responsible for advising the CEO and Cabinet office on the strategic direction of the GPA and providing appropriate governance. Director General Government Property is Mike Parsons; Chair of the GPA is Liz Peace. ref, Mar.2018.

Executive Non-Departmental Public Bodies

  • Civil Service Commission
  • Equality and Human Rights Commission

Advisory Non-Departmental Public Bodies

Advisory Committee on Business Appointments

aka ACOBA. Linkback: Revolving Door

See also Accountable Influence: Bringing Lobbying Out of the Shadows. p.18, Transparency International UK, Sept.2015., and Managing Ministers’ and officials’ conflicts of interest: time for clearer values, principles and action. Public Administration and Constitutional Affairs Committee, p.25, Parliament.uk, House of Commons, Apr.2017.

Boundary Commission for England

See main article: Boundary Commissions (UK)#Boundary Commission for England

Boundary Commission for Wales

See main article: Boundary Commissions (UK)#Boundary Commission for Wales

Committee on Standards in Public Life

See main article: Committee on Standards in Public Life

House of Lords Appointments Commission

Senior Salaries Review Body

The SSRB provides independent advice to the Prime Minister, the Lord Chancellor, the Secretary of State for Defence, the Secretary of State for Health and the Home Secretary on the pay of Senior Civil Servants, the judiciary, senior officers of the armed forces, certain senior managers in the NHS, Police and Crime Commissioners and chief police officers.

Other Bodies

Commission on Race & Ethnic Disparities

Commissioner for Public Appointments

Commissioner for Public AppointmentsWikipedia-W.svg

Government Equalities Office

Government Equalities OfficeWikipedia-W.svg

Government Estates Management

Infrastructure & Projects Authority

The IPA is the govt’s centre of expertise for infrastructure and major projects; it works with the Cabinet Office and HM Treasury. (see Mindnode)
See main article: Infrastructure and Projects Authority

Office of the Registrar of Consultant Lobbyists

Privy Council Office

Centre for Public Appointments

A public appointment is generally a ministerial appointment to the board of a public body or advisory committee...

Government Digital Service

The GDS is governed by the Ministerial Group on Government Digital Technology, and the digital, data and technology leaders of the central govt departments and devolved administrations. GDS is guided by the GDS Advisory Board, Data Steering Group and Privacy and Consumer Advisory Group.ref

Gov.UK Verify

Gov.uk Verify is "a secure way to prove who you are online". When you use Verify to access a govt service, you choose from a list of identity providers (aka "certified companies") that the govt has approved to verify your identity.ref Approved providers are:

Open Public Services

Civil service

  • Civil Service

High Profile Groups

  • Cabinet Office Board

Cabinet Committees

United Kingdom cabinet committeeWikipedia-W.svg List of Cabinet Committees (Jun.2020):

  • National Security Council: To consider matters relating to national security, foreign policy, defence, international relations and development, resilience, energy and resource security.
    • National Security Council Sub-Committee: Nuclear Deterrence and Security: To consider issues relating to nuclear deterrence and security.
  • Covid-19 Strategy: To drive the Government’s strategic response to Covid-19, considering the impact of both the virus and the response to it, and setting the direction for the recovery strategy.
  • Covid-19 Operations: To deliver the policy and operational response to Covid-19.
  • EU Exit Strategy: To consider matters relating to the UK’s trade priorities, including Free Trade Agreements, the multilateral trade system, and interlinkages with the domestic economy.
  • EU Exit Operations: To implement the Withdrawal Agreement, and deliver the policy and operational transition to new international relationships.
  • Domestic and Economic Strategy: To consider matters relating to the govt’s domestic and economic strategy and strengthening the union of the United Kingdom.
  • Climate Action Strategy: To consider matters relating to the delivery of the UK’s domestic and international climate strategy.
  • Crime and Justice Task Force: To consider matters relating to the prevention of crime and the effectiveness of the Criminal Justice System.
  • Economic Operations Committee: To deliver the govt’s economic priorities across the whole of the United Kingdom.
  • Domestic and Economy Implementation: To support collective agreement of matters relating to the implementation and delivery of domestic and economic policy.
  • Union Policy Implementation: To support the delivery of the govt’s priorities in relation to the Union of the UK.
  • Parliamentary Business & Legislation: To consider matters relating to the govt’s parliamentary business and delivery of its legislative programme.
  • National Space Council: To consider issues concerning prosperity, diplomacy and national security in, through and from Space, as part of coordinating overall govt policy.
  • Climate Action Implementation Committee: To consider matters relating to the delivery of COP26, net zero and building the UK’s resilience to climate impacts.




High Profile Groups

Cabinet Committees

National Security Council

The National Security Council (NSC) is a Cabinet Committee tasked with overseeing all issues related to national security, intelligence coordination, and defence strategy. The terms of reference of the NSC are to consider matters relating to national security, foreign policy, defence, cyber security, resilience, energy and resource security.[1] The Council is a Cabinet committee. The National Security Adviser (NSA) is secretary to the council.
Accountability: ... There is also a question of accountability. It is notable, for example, that the International Development Select Committee has found itself hampered in overseeing all UK aid. When it examined the question of policy coherence in 2015, the National Security Council refused to give evidence. The Committee concluded that ‘we have been constrained in the inquiry by the refusal of the National Security Adviser to appear before us. We recognise that parliamentary scrutiny of the National Security Strategy and NSC is led by the Joint Committee on the National Security Strategy (JCNSS). However, we also believe that the NSC should be accountable to other Committees, including ours, so we can test whether it is taking adequate account of such issues as conflict prevention.’ ref, Nov.2017

Council Subcommittees

Nuclear Deterrence & Security Subcommittee
Threats, Hazards, Resilience & Contingencies Subcommittee

Governs Critical National Infrastructure (CNI) protection. This Ministerial-led group is supported by an Officials group (NSC(THRC)(O)), which is chaired by the Deputy National Security Advisor for Intelligence, Security and Resilience. The committees seek to enable cross-Government oversight and assurance of the security and resilience of the UK’s infrastructure. CPNI, Who We Work With

Strategic Defence & Security Review Implementation Subcommittee

Conflict, Stability & Security Fund

The council oversees the Conflict, Stability and Security Fund, a fund of more than £1bn per year for tackling conflict and instability abroad.

Prosperity Fund

This is confusing. See this article for a helpful explanation of how it sortof fits together. Also has explanations re the Conflict, Stability and Security Fund. link

"The cross-govt Fund is accountable to the National Security Council and overseen by a Ministerial Board. Their responsibilities include: setting the strategic direction of the Fund; endorsing programme proposals; reviewing impacts; and ensuring value for money. The Fund’s Senior Responsible Owner is the National Security Adviser, Mark Sedwill. A Portfolio Board comprised of senior officials representing stakeholder departments makes decisions on portfolio composition and delivery issues. The Prosperity Fund Management Office provides strategic management and corporate support. Delivery departments are responsible for: designing credible programmes; ensuring effective spend and delivery; financial accountability and reporting on progress." ref, p.10

DDG search

International Climate Fund

UK International Climate Finance (ICF) plays a crucial role in addressing this global challenge. Three govt departments (DfID, BEIS and Defra) have responsibility for investing the UK’s £5.8bn of ICF between 2016-2021.

Global Challenges Research Fund

Move this to BEIS, https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/global-challenges-research-fund

This Fund is part of the UK’s Official Development Assistance (ODA) commitment, which is monitored by the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD). The GCRF delivery partners are: UK Research and Innovation, Scottish Funding Council, Higher Education Funding Council for Wales, Department for Education Northern Ireland, Academy of Medical Sciences, Royal Society, British Academy, Royal Academy of Engineering and UK Space Agency. The Fund is advised by a Strategic Advisory Group and a UKRI International Development Peer Review College forms part of the GCRF global engagement strategy for Official Development Assistance (ODA) research.

Ross Fund

> Department for International Development and Department of Health and Social Care

The Government has created the Ross Fund for research and development in products for infectious diseases and to strengthen delivery of new products. The fund is managed by Department for International Development and the Department of Health.

Fleming Fund

> Fleming Fund budget is allocated by HM Treasury

Increasingly, bacteria, parasites, viruses and other disease-causing microorganisms are becoming resistant to the drugs we have available. However, no new classes of antibiotics have come on the market for more than 25 years, and the drugs we do have are over-prescribed. Resistance to front-line drugs for malaria and HIV is spreading, potentially putting millions of lives at risk in South-east Asia and Africa. The Wellcome Trust will collaborate with the Govt, the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, the Institut Pasteur International Network and other partners over the next 5 years to build laboratory capacity, surveillance networks and response capacity in low- and middle-income countries.

Independent Bodies

Office of the Registrar of Consultant Lobbyists

The Transparency of Lobbying, Non-Party Campaigning and Trade Union Administration Act 2014 received Royal Assent on Jan.30.2014. Amongst other things the legislation introduced a statutory register of consultant lobbyists and established a Registrar to enforce the registration requirements.
The govt established the Office of the Registrar of Consultant Lobbyists (ORCL), an independent statutory office, working within the Cabinet Office, responsible for publishing the statutory Register of Consultant Lobbyists. Alison White was appointed as the first Registrar of Consultant Lobbyists in Sept.2014, charged with establishing the new register.
All third-party consultants engaging in lobbying, under the terms set out in the legislation, must register. The statutory register requires registrants to submit a quarterly return which gives the names of their clients and declares whether or not they subscribe to a relevant code of conduct. The register is searchable by the names of consultant lobbyists and by the names of clients submitted. The cost for any organisation required to submit all four quarterly entries is currently £1,000 per annum ref.
The Office is funded via Grant in Aid from the Cabinet Office. However, as per the Cabinet Office regulations, the Office will seek to recoup its costs (excluding its staffing and shared services costs) via the fees charged to registrants for using the Register. The Registrar is accountable to Parliament for the activities of her Office. ref The APPC thinks the Statutory Register is a pointless and useless waste of time; they suggest full disclosure of Ministers' diaries would be far better. Also ban lobbyists and/or the people/firms they are lobying on behalf of from donating to political parties. ref.

Civil Service

ToDo:

Other Bodies

Commissioning Academy

Originally launched in 2012,[4] the Commissioning Academy aims to help those who work on defining policy, shaping public service provision or allocating resources for services to citizens, to get the best outcome.[5] The Academy is run at various venues across the UK. The programme consists of master classes, workshops, guest speakers, site visits and peer challenge, over 3-6 days. The idea is to learn from the example of successful bodies.
The Academy was initially under the auspices of the Public Service Transformation Network, founded by Robert Pollock and launched in 2013 "to drive the transformation of local public services"[6]. In Apr.2016, the Academy was re-launched, with the Public Service Transformation Academy being awarded a concession contract to run it.

Stabilisation Unit

The Stabilisation Unit aims to support the govt in developing responses to transnational stability and security challenges, in fragile and conflict-affected states.ref
The Unit is a cross-govt, civil-military-police unit based in London, and includes Government Partnerships International. We are funded through the § Conflict, Stability and Security Fund, and are governed through the § National Security Council. We consist of core civil servant staff members from 12 govt departments, as well as serving military and police officers.

Government Partnerships International

GPI, formerly known as the National School of Government International, provides peer-to-peer support to partner govts overseas, to help them deliver better public services to citizens. This supports UK govt objectives in fragile and developing countries by increasing the impact of aid interventions and helping to build effective institutions.
GPI is made up of a core team of civil servants from a range of departments as well as short and long term expert support from across govt, academia and the public sector.
GPI is funded through the SU’s Conflict, Security and Stability Fund budget, and uses other funds from partners across govt.


Timelines

2011The Office of Government Commerce was closed.
2010The Office of Government Commerce was moved into the Efficiency and Reform Group of the Cabinet Office.
2000The Office of Government CommerceWikipedia-W.svg was established as part of HM Treasury.

References

  1. ^ Accenture, Capita, IBM jump on £800m framework to make the NHS more agile as UK.gov announces further reforms. Lindsay Clark, The Register, Feb.15.2021.
  2. ^ UK.gov awards seats on £2bn 'digital outcomes' framework to suppliers – one of which doesn't even have a website. Lindsay Clark, The Register, Feb.11.2021.
  3. ^ Annual Report and Accounts 2017/18. page 103, NHS Business Services Authority, Jul.03.2018.
  4. ^ Speech at the Commissioning Academy launch. Gov.uk, Jan.31.2013.
  5. ^ The Commissioning Academy. How public sector senior commissioners can apply for professional development opportunities through the new academy. Gov.uk, Jan.31.2013.
  6. ^ The Public Service Transformation Network. The new Public Service Transformation Network (PSTN) is working with 33 upper tier local authorities, covering 22% of the English population. Directed by Robert Pollock. Public Sector Executive, Feb.21.2014.
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