Major machinery of govt changes including - finally! - the creation of an Office for the Prime Minister and Cabinet Long overdue and excellent news that the Burnham govt has grasped this nettle questions-statements.parliament.uk/written-stat...

Written statements - Written questions, answers and statements - UK Parliament

Information from UK Parliament on written questions & answers, written statements and daily reports.

questions-statements.parliament.uk

EVENT | Regulation in a changing world: How to meet the needs of the future? 📅Wednesday 15 July 2026, 13:45-17:25 A half-day conference bringing together experts from across government, industry and civil society to discuss the future of regulation in the UK. The conference will include...

There's just a week to go until our half-day conference, Regulation in a changing world: How to meet the needs of the future? Watch as @drmatthewgill.bsky.social reveals more about the day and our speakers. Interested in joining us on Weds 15 July? Check out the links below

1/8 Do join us at @instituteforgovernment.org.uk for our half day conference – “Regulation in a changing world: How to meet the needs of the future?” – on the afternoon of Wednesday 15th July.

This is well worth a look if you're interested in the foundations of public body independence, particularly for scientific bodies providing specialist evidence and expertise. The resource builds on extensive UCL research from last year, also referenced in the thread.

Prof Christina Pagel@chrischirp.bsky.social · last mo.

📢NEW RESOURCE: A new web resource and accompanying report to explore the vulnerabilities to political interference of 33 key UK scientific public bodies & 11 scientific advisory committees! unchecked.uk/public_body_... 1/7

My latest short piece for @instituteforgovernment.org.uk is part of our series marking 10 years since the Brexit vote. I focus on regulation, but colleagues have written on the economy, civil service, foreign policy, law, policymaking, devolution, parliament and politics itself. Well worth a browse!

Institute for Government@instituteforgovernment.org.uk · last mo.

Regulation has been front and centre of implementing Brexit, but not in the way its proponents might have hoped. @drmatthewgill.bsky.social sets out four questions the UK government must answer in the years ahead www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/comment/brex...

1/8 It's good to see the Office for Nuclear Regulation (ONR) receiving the attention it deserves. This explainer from @howesdaniel.bsky.social @instituteforgovernment.org.uk explains its role ⬇️. But John Fingleton's recent review of ONR raised regulatory issues that go beyond the sector. A thread...

Daniel Howes@howesdaniel.bsky.social · 6mo ago

Ever wondered who's keeping our nuclear power stations from melting down/blowing up? Or who decides where new reactors can and can't go? Or who stops nuclear material getting into the wrong hands? www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/explainer/of...

1/3 The government’s reasons for scrapping plans for an Audit and Reporting Governance Authority (ARGA) appear specious. This is a bad example of how to achieve growth by cutting red tape, as I argue in my latest comment for @instituteforgovernment.org.uk...

Institute for Government@instituteforgovernment.org.uk · 6mo ago

The government is wrong to ditch plans for the Audit and Reporting Governance Authority Ministers have not set out a convincing rationale for scrapping the ARGA project, says @drmatthewgill.bsky.social www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/comment/audi...

1/8 Well worth reading this piece from David Willetts out today: www.kcl.ac.uk/news/lord-wi.... It raises many important questions as well as showcasing RIO’s work. A thread:

Lord Willetts sets out vision for pro-innovation regulation to boost UK growth | King's College London

The chair of the Regulatory Innovation Office reflects on what works in regulating emerging technologies

kcl.ac.uk

"Every time I pull a lever" says the Prime Minister. This dead metaphor is killing his ability to get things done. There aren't any levers. There's only leadership. howtorunacountry.substack.com/p/there-aren...

There aren't any levers

A dead metaphor is killing the government's ability to get things done

howtorunacountry.substack.com

There's often pressure to set up a public inquiry, but they're expensive and rarely a panacea. Lots of insight in this report on how we can use them better!

Rebecca McKee@rebeccamckee.bsky.social · 8mo ago

📝Our new @instituteforgovernment.org.uk report with @jackpannell.bsky.social & @emmanorris.bsky.social out today sets out out the underlying problems with the way public inquiries are established We argue ministers need better support to make informed decisions about how an inquiry should be set up

The updated Governance Code for Public Appointments is a major step forward - good to see many previous IfG recommendations taken on board. There is more to do, however, as shown by recent antics at DCMS. My and @drmatthewgill.bsky.social 's thoughts below👇

Institute for Government@instituteforgovernment.org.uk · 8mo ago

Public appointments are being streamlined. But will it work? The success of the updated governance code depends on ministers and departments putting it into practice. Read the new comment from @howesdaniel.bsky.social @drmatthewgill.bsky.social www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/comment/publ...

A case study well worth noting, with a recurrent theme that policy targeting is crude - due to: political incentives; easy levers not aligning with need; markets requiring careful stewardship; central decision-making being in tension with local sensitivity. Reads across to many other policy fields!

Sophie Metcalfe@sophiemetcalfe.bsky.social · 8mo ago

NEW report from @nehaldavison.bsky.social and I. Why have successive governments failed to tackle persistent inequalities in early years outcomes? We set out 5 systemic policy making failures that lead to some children being 'left behind'. 🧵⬇️ www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/publication/...

NEW REPORT: abolishing NHS England could help simplify accountability, improve prioritisation and create savings. But the change could also lead to increases in policy incoherence and blame culture, as well as the loss of skills, capacity and focus on areas outside the day-to-day NHS.

Abolished to perfection? Building a better centre for the NHS | Institute for Government

The abolition of NHS England creates both risks and opportunities.

instituteforgovernment.org.uk

The highlights of my latest thinking on regulation and growth are now here for you in @civilserviceworld.bsky.social: www.civilserviceworld.com/news/article... (and if that whets your appetite, more detail here: www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/publication/... for @instituteforgovernment.org.uk).

Regulation and growth: Will the government’s strategy deliver?

The government is taking steps to align regulation with its growth agenda – what has it got right, and what is missing?

civilserviceworld.com

Hot on the heels of yesterday's Covid inquiry report on decision making, @shaina-sangha.bsky.social and I have a new report out today looking at how combined epidemiological-economic modelling could help government better prepare for future pandemics www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/publication/...

Combined epidemiological and economic modelling | Institute for Government

The pandemic showed the need for government to improve its use of modelling.

instituteforgovernment.org.uk

1/5 In this paper for @instituteforgovernment.org.uk, I evaluate the government’s efforts to make regulation and regulators more supportive of growth: www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/publication/...

Regulation and growth | Institute for Government

What is in the government's new action plan?

instituteforgovernment.org.uk

1/4 Lisa Nandy may have explained her mistake, but questions remain about the appointment process for Chair of the Independent Football Regulator, mainly for DCMS. Pages 11-12 of the Commissioner's decision notice are worth reading: publicappointmentscommissioner.independent.gov.uk/wp-content/u...

Tim Durrant@timdurrant.bsky.social · 9mo ago

I wrote this last week, and then last night we find out that Lisa Nandy has been rapped over the knuckles for failing to acknowledge donations from the government's nominee to chair the new Football Regulator. Again - just check things properly people, make sure you're squeaky clean!

This is an important step, but there are still signs of undue caution. More could be done to put civil servants' engagement with those outside on a clearer footing. The comment from @alexgathomas.bsky.social and @drhannahwhite.bsky.social has more!

Alex Thomas@alexgathomas.bsky.social · 10mo ago

Some - cautious - good news on the govt’s civil service gagging rules Nick Thomas-Symonds has written to us rowing back on the worst aspects: “it is important for civil servants to speak in public about matters for which they have responsibility” www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/comment/welc...

Important new research from UCL (@chrischirp.bsky.social @martinmckee.bsky.social). It explores both how greater politicisation of scientific agencies might come about and why it matters. Comparative international research forcefully illustrates the stakes involved. This is well worth your time.

Prof Christina Pagel@chrischirp.bsky.social · 10mo ago

🧵🚨 The UK’s independent scientific bodies are highly vulnerable to politicisation - over the past 5 months I've been working with @martinmckee.bsky.social to map out their vulnerabilities and it's not good news. Today our report is published! www.ucl.ac.uk/policy-lab/n... 1/11

1/ My latest for @instituteforgovernment.org.uk is on the proposed “democratic lock” over the Sentencing Council. I argue that David Lammy, as new justice secretary, should overturn his predecessor's decision that all guidelines the Council issues should be subject to ministerial approval.

Institute for Government@instituteforgovernment.org.uk · 11mo ago

David Lammy should reverse the proposed “democratic lock” over the Sentencing Council We need a politics that does not pile pressure on ministers to overrule independent decisions, says @drmatthewgill.bsky.social www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/comment/davi...

@danhaile.bsky.social and I have now looked at the Independent Water Commission's final report for @instituteforgovernment.org.uk. Lots of creative ideas to improve regulation in the water sector - but transition to the new regime will be tricky... www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/article/comm....

Water reform: From Ofwat to what? | Institute for Government

The Independent Water Commission’s final report sets out a creative blueprint for reform – but will it work?

instituteforgovernment.org.uk

Institute for Government@instituteforgovernment.org.uk · last yr.

The final report from the Independent Water Commission is out today. As @danhaile.bsky.social and @drmatthewgill.bsky.social wrote in June, success at resetting water regulation will depend on widespread commitment to a clear and settled direction www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/comment/inde...

1/ The government’s response to the open letter co-ordinated by @instituteforgovernment.org.uk (@drhannahwhite.bsky.social @alexgathomas.bsky.social) on civil servants speaking in public is not only disappointing, but also surprising...

Hannah White@drhannahwhite.bsky.social · last yr.

We at @instituteforgovernment.org.uk have coordinated a letter in @thetimes.com today in which numerous individuals and organisations call on the government to withdraw its mistaken rules which are having a serious chilling effect on civil servants speaking in public…

1/ This is an important comment on civil servant's public voice from @drhannahwhite.bsky.social and @alexgathomas.bsky.social at @instituteforgovernment.org.uk. And it could have particular implications for public bodies and regulators. A short thread...

Institute for Government@instituteforgovernment.org.uk · last yr.

The government should not ban public servants from speaking in public A private instruction that prevents government officials from speaking at public events is counter-productive. It will lead to a more closed government and less effective policy www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/comment/gove...

Good to see this new NAO report published this morning: www.nao.org.uk/reports/acco.... Burdens of accountability are proportionately higher for smaller government bodies, but it is also harder for them to get the support they need in government to meet them. Some good ideas here to rectify that.

Accountability in small government bodies - NAO report

Government can release resources and improve accountability by tailoring governance and audit requirements for small public bodies.

nao.org.uk

1/ It’s Industrial Strategy day: www.gov.uk/government/p.... In general, you should follow @gilesyb.bsky.social for @instituteforgovernment.org.uk takes on this, but this thread contains some thoughts on the regulation aspects...

Industrial Strategy

Strategy document setting out a new economic approach to backing the UK’s strengths, with ambitious plans for 8 high-growth sectors.

gov.uk

The government’s current focus on regulatory reform is welcome, but I argue for @instituteforgovernment.org.uk that it has an opportunity to think more systematically – and ambitiously – if it can organise itself in a way that makes that possible: www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/comment/regu...

Regulatory reform: systemic thinking, not tinkering | Institute for Government

The government’s aspirations to streamline regulation cannot be achieved piecemeal.

instituteforgovernment.org.uk

The Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body (SPCB) has reviewed its supported bodies landscape (I provided some comparative input from the UK system). Sensible recommendations published today to ensure accountability and minimise the proliferation of new bodies: bprcdn.parliament.scot/published/SS....

New research - and guidance - from colleagues at @instituteforgovernment.org.uk on the important subject of ministers' roles during crises...

Paddy McAlary@paddy-mcalary.bsky.social · last yr.

📣New @instituteforgovernment.org.uk report & guide on ministerial leadership during crises Most government ministers will face a crisis of one type or another in office – and this can be make or break. So how can a minister successfully prepare for crises and what roles can they play? 🧵

1/ PACAC is holding an inquiry on public bodies. It was an honour to appear as their first public witness for @instituteforgovernment.org.uk last month. It was a wide ranging hearing, and the recording and transcript are here: committees.parliament.uk/event/24075/.... A thread of clips…

7 May 2025 - Public Bodies - Oral evidence - Committees - UK Parliament

09:30 - Room 15, Palace of Westminster

committees.parliament.uk