09 March 2007
Departmental ministers should have more say over the direction of government policy, while measures must be introduced to improve transparency around planning, an influential committee has reported.
The Commons' public administration select committee this week claimed that while the Prime Minister's Strategy Unit has done much to improve Whitehall's long-term planning, many departmental initiatives take a short-term view.
The committee's study, published on March 6, lauds the work of bodies such as Liverpool University's Foresight Centre, a policy think-tank, in developing a forward-thinking culture.
However, Governing for the future also recognises that government needs to adapt to changing political, social and economic circumstances.
It warns critics that 'change in policy in the light of changing knowledge and circumstances is a sign of strength, not weakness'.
It calls on the government to 'be as open as possible' and to publish regular reports to Parliament outlining long-term goals.
PFmar2007
