18 January 2008
All Cabinet ministers responsible for Public Service Agreements should be required to provide an annual report to Parliament outlining the progress in meeting the targets, according to the New Local Government Network.
The think-tank argues that ministers should also face regular parliamentary 'question times' on the PSAs as a means of ensuring objectives are delivered.
Each senior civil servant with direct responsibility for a PSA should also be held publicly accountable.
In a report published on January 14, Changing Whitehall's DNA, the NLGN says this scrutiny should include being publicly named and giving evidence to the Commons' Public Accounts Committee.
The senior responsible officer should also be required to write to the National Audit Office every year to confirm that the performance and delivery mechanisms in place are best suited to meeting the PSA targets.
Dick Sorabji, NLGN deputy director and author of the report, said these changes would realise the regime's potential for changing the culture of Whitehall and ensuring that policy pledges were translated into frontline delivery.
'Building on his reforms to PSAs, Gordon Brown has the opportunity both to make Whitehall more effective and also to deliver the joined-up government that is central to his long-term vision,' Sorabji added.
PFjan2008
