HC Deb 20 November 2002 vol 394 c37WS
The Minister of State, Cabinet Office (Mr. Douglas Alexander)

The Strategy Unit report, "Risk: improving government's capability to handle risk and uncertainty", is today being published.

The Government welcomes the report, and we have accepted its recommendations in full. They aim to improve the way we anticipate and handle risk in the day-to-day conduct of our business, to support the effective delivery of public services. The report's recommendations will be implemented through a two-year programme of change, led by the Cabinet Office Permanent Secretary, Sir David Omand.

The report looks particularly at those areas of government that involve handling risks that may affect the public, and makes a number of recommendations to improve the involvement of the public in decision making about risks that affect them. It proposes a set of principles that government should follow in handling risks to the public, on which we intend to consult.

Copies of the report have been placed in the Vote Office, the Printed Paper Office, and the libraries of both Houses.