Is Whitehall Fit For Purpose? An Analysis of the Capability Reviews

Article

How good is Whitehall at delivery? Analysing data published as part of the Departmental Capability Reviews, IPPR research shows that despite the strong emphasis placed on 'delivery' by the Blair governments, key Whitehall public service delivery departments continue to under-perform in this vital area. Of the six departments assessed in this paper four were found to have significant weaknesses in terms of their ability to deliver effectively. In short, Whitehall has a long way to go if it is to improve its capacity to deliver public services.

How good is Whitehall at delivery? Analysing data published as part of the Departmental Capability Reviews, ippr research shows that despite the strong emphasis placed on 'delivery' by the Blair governments, key Whitehall public service delivery departments continue to under-perform in this vital area. Of the six departments assessed in this paper four were found to have significant weaknesses in terms of their ability to deliver effectively. In short, Whitehall has a long way to go if it is to improve its capacity to deliver public services.

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