§ Joyce QuinTo ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office (1) what progress the Cabinet Office has made towards the goal set out in the White Paper, Your Region, Your Choice, of(a) ensuring that regional awareness and devolution feature strongly in civil service training and development, (b) increasing the mobility of civil servants between headquarters offices, regional offices, and the Government Offices and (c) encouraging interchange between the civil service and organisations in the regions; [108585]
(2) what progress has been made within the civil service towards the goal set out in the White Paper, Your Region, Your Choice, of (a) ensuring that regional awareness and devolution feature strongly in civil service training and development, (b) increasing the mobility of civil servants between headquarters offices, regional offices, and the Government Offices and (c) encouraging interchange between the civil service and organisations in the regions. [108587]
§ Mr. AlexanderTraining programmes include discussions of the regional implications of policy development as appropriate. The CMPS Partnership Programme takes course members to the regions to see the implementation of policy in action. Other courses have case studies and speakers that examine regional issues. In addition a number of specific programmes are offered which include: "Working with the devolved administrations" and "Devolution in action".
All moves of civil servants between departments are made in the best interests of the business of the departments concerned. The mobility of staff between HQ policy and regionally based directorates and Government Offices (GOs) is an important part of departments' HR strategy to deliver the Government's regional agenda. Information on mobility between regions, HQs and GOs is not held centrally.
603WAwareness of the value of interchange is recognised and promoted in each of the nine Government Office regions in line with the objectives set out in the White Paper. The Cabinet Office Interchange Unit has run a series of events in each of the Government Office regions to bring together representatives from civil service departments and other organisations to encourage interchanges at regional level and to help deliver the Government's programme of neighbourhood regeneration through sharing relevant skills and experience between sectors.