§ 23. Mr. Ivan LewisTo ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office if he will make a statement on progress in improving the mechanisms for co-ordination between Government Departments. [63743]
§ Mr. KilfoyleGood progress is being made. The following initiatives are helping to improve co-ordination between Government Departments
229Wthe role of my right hon. Friend the Minister for the Cabinet Office is to advise and assist ministerial colleagues in the effective co-ordination and presentation of Government policy;the restructured and strengthened Cabinet Office is helping to bring Departments together to formulate policy collectively and to drive forward cross-Departmental issues; anda number of cross-cutting Units have been established to tackle some of the difficult issues which cross conventional Departmental boundaries.We plan to publish a White Paper in the Spring setting out our programme for modernising government and joining up public services to respond better to the people who need them.