HC Deb 06 December 1999 vol 340 cc356-8W
Ms Squire

To ask the Prime Minister if he has received the review of the Social Exclusion Unit; and if he will make a statement. [101681]

Mr. Don Foster

To ask the Prime Minister what reviews have taken place of the work of the Social Exclusion unit since its inception; and what decisions have been taken on the long-term future of the unit. [100696]

The Prime Minister

I established the Social Exclusion Unit (SEU) in December 1997. Its remit is to help improve Government action to reduce social exclusion by producingjoined up solutions to joined up problems".

Most of its work is on specific projects, chosen by me following consultation with other Ministers and suggestions from interested groups.

Since its inception, the unit has focused on the following priorities: truancy and school exclusion, rough sleeping, poor neighbourhoods, teenage pregnancy and 16–18-year-olds not in employment, education or training. The unit has reported to me on each, with a full analysis of the problem and concrete recommendations for action, all of which I have accepted. These are now Government policy and are being implemented.

I announced in December 1998 that, as the unit was set up on a time-limited basis, its success would be reviewed in the summer 1999, and a decision announced about its longer term future and work programme.

During the summer, this review was undertaken by KPMG, working with members of the SEU. The review took evidence and opinions in writing and face to face with a large number of individuals and organisations with an interest in the work of the unit. The review has now reported to me and the full review report will be published to coincide with this announcement.

The consultation showed that there is overwhelming support for the continued existence of the SEU, and a widespread belief that it has been a success in terms of operation and its effect on wider Government policy, although it is too early to judge the impact of the SEU on the ground.

In particular, the quality of the unit's reports was considered exceptional and its working practices, with a mix of civil service and external staff, was seen as a strength. The approach could be used more widely across the whole of Government. It is also clear that the unit's work has done much to raise the profile of social exclusion as a policy issue within and outside Government.

It is clear from both from the quality of the unit's work and its impact so far that there is a role for it to play for some years to come. I have therefore decided that it will continue in existence, and be reviewed again at the end of 2002.

In the short term, I have set the unit the following new priorities as a result of this review. They are: to complete the current programme of work to develop the national strategy for neighbourhood renewal, including oversight of the work of the 18 policy action teams. The unit will be closely involved in establishing the arrangements for implementation of the strategy after it is announced in the summer of 2000; to work closely with HM Treasury and other Government Departments to ensure that the 2000 spending review reflects the priority the Government gives to tackling poverty and social exclusion; and to bolster the arrangements for monitoring implementation of past reports. I have asked the Minister for the Cabinet Office to chair the Ministerial Network on Social Exclusion, which will be given a new remit to chase progress across Government on implementation of past SEU reports, as well as acting as an informal sounding board for the unit's future work programme. I have also expanded the Network's membership to enable it to meet this new remit.

The membership of the Ministerial Network is: Mo Mowlam (chair), Cabinet Office Wendy Alexander MSP, The Scottish Executive, Development Department Hilary Armstrong, Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions Paul Boateng, Home Office Yvette Cooper, Department of Health Lord Falconer, Cabinet Office Patricia Hewitt, Department of Trade and Industry Kate Hoey, Department for Culture, Media and Sport Jane Hutt AM, National Assembly for Wales, Health and Social Services Estelle Morris, Department for Education and Employment Jeff Rooker, Department of Social Security Andrew Smith, HM Treasury Baroness Blackstone, Department for Education and Employment

Arrangements for Network representation from Northern Ireland will be announced shortly.

I will announce a new work programme for the unit in the summer of 2000, once it has finished its current project to develop the national strategy for neighbourhood renewal.

The full review report will be placed in the Library and on the SEU website.