Civil Service publishes Outcomes Delivery Plan report

Date published: 18 December 2018

The report provides an assessment of the progress that has been made against 12 economic and social outcomes which contribute to the objective of improving wellbeing for all by tackling disadvantage and driving economic growth.

Published in June, the Outcomes Delivery Plan provides direction for those who deliver public services to ensure that the operational business of government is discharged as effectively as possible and in a co-ordinated manner.

The mid-year report meets a commitment at the time of publication to provide transparency around the business of government and the performance of the NICS in its delivery.

The Head of the Civil Service, David Sterling, has welcomed the publication of the report and says that, in the continued absence of ministers, the NICS is doing what it can to make meaningful progress.

He said: “Whilst progress has been made across many of the outcomes, it is becoming increasingly difficult to maintain momentum and there is a clear need for fresh thinking and renewed policy impetus in almost every area.

“The absence of ministers places considerable constraints on the NICS, restricting its operational capacity and ability to respond as effectively as it would like to current issues and events.

“We are delivering to the best of our ability in the prevailing circumstances, continuing to work with partners across the public sector and wider society, but civil servants cannot take the place of ministers when it comes to strategic policy development or in taking transformative decisions that are urgently needed.”

The mid-year report is available on The Executive Office website.