Department for Work and Pensions: Policy

(asked on 7th September 2023) - View Source

Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps they are taking to help ensure that their Department (a) gives sufficient attention to long term strategic challenges, (b) does not allow current events to slow down work on long term strategic issues and (c) consistently undertakes horizon scanning.


Answered by
Mims Davies Portrait
Mims Davies
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Work and Pensions)
This question was answered on 13th September 2023

The Department ensures it gives sufficient attention to long-term strategic issues through its Departmental Board, chaired by the Secretary of State, which brings together the Ministerial Team, the Executive Team and senior non-executive members from outside of government. The Board supports and advises ministers and the Department on strategic issues linked to the development and implementation of the Government’s objectives.

The Department’s Outcome Delivery Plan sets out how we plan to deliver outcomes for customers in the short term – responding at pace to emerging risks – and the long term regardless of current events. Our aims include maximising employment and in-work progression, improving people’s quality of life and delivering excellent services for citizens and taxpayers.

As we deliver our aims in the Outcome Delivery Plan, one of the tools we apply is horizon scanning across the Department and with other government departments. The Departmental Board scans for emerging issues, monitoring performance and overseeing the management of risks – setting the overall strategic direction for the Department in the long term in light of ministerial priorities and our Departmental Plan.

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