Now is the time to reset government capacity and quality of
strategic thinking and future-proof ministerial decision-making
for this generation and those that follow, say MPs.
The immediate and escalating challenges and opportunities which
face the UK need long-term vision, creativity and collaboration
across political parties and government departments, says a new
report from the Liaison Committee, Promoting national
strategy: How select committee scrutiny can improve strategic
thinking in Whitehall.
As the UK heads to the polls on July 4, MPs on the Liaison
Committee say a profound rethink is required to break the cycle
of siloed, short-term thinking that has come to dominate
successive governments' ways of working.
The Committee calls on the Government to provide a binding
commitment to a physical campus for the establishment of a new
‘National School for Government and Public Services.' This would
develop a strong, shared culture of strategic thinking across
government and share best practice across all grades of the Civil
Service involved in policy and implementation. A programme of
learning and professional development in strategic thinking,
government ways of working and tools and skills for MPs should
also be included.
The report calls on the next Government to set out the UK's
national strategy, underpinned by five or six key national
strategic priorities, at the start of a new Parliament. This
should be monitored and updated by the National Situation Centre
and be subject to an annual report to Parliament. The Cabinet
Office itself should be slimmed down to enable it to focus on
these strategic priorities, with foresight analysis clearly
connected to decision-making.
The inquiry heard powerful evidence that young people are
becoming detached from democracy and more open to
authoritarianism than previous generations. Failure to address
long-term issues which impact their futures – such as housing,
national debt, and climate concerns – is undermining their trust
and engagement in the political system. In the interests of
fairness between generations, it will be vital to include their
voice and interests in decision-making.
Alongside the usual select committee scrutiny, a committee on
national strategic priorities should be established in the next
Parliament, specifically including the interests of future
generations. The Committee for the Future would hold ministers
and officials to account for government's national strategy and
ensure the culture changes required across Whitehall are
achieved.
The Chair of the Liaison Committee, Sir MP, said:
“Getting Parliament and government to be more strategic than they
have been over the past 20 or 30 years is vital to restoring
public confidence in our entire democratic system, particularly
among younger generations who will inherit the consequences of
what governments do now. The next government should seize this
offer from Parliament to support and scrutinise strategic
thinking for the future.”
