NEW REPORT STRUCTURE
Written evidence submitted by the Foreign
and Commonwealth Office
PROPOSAL FOR NEW STRUCTURE 2004-05
BACKGROUND
The 2003-04 FCO Annual Report, like its predecessors,
was structured around our objectives and Public Service Agreement
(PSA) targets. Each chapter covered one objective and its targets.
In 2004-05 the same objectives and PSA targets
form the basis of our agreement with Treasury. The Foreign Affairs
Committee are aware, however, that the FCO's white paper "UK
International Priorities" (our "Strategy") which
was published in December 2003, now leads our work and the way
we are organised as a Department. Treasury has agreed new objectives
and targets with the FCO which are based on the strategic priorities
in that document. These will start in April 2005.
This financial year is a transitional one. The
FCO is working to meet its new strategic priorities while also
fulfilling its objectives and targets. We therefore need to find
a structure for the Departmental Report which meets statutory
requirements to explain how the FCO is meeting objectives, while
also acknowledging the strategic priorities' importance as key
political and administrative planning tools.
PROPOSED NEW
STRUCTURE
We propose to base this year's Report around
the strategic priorities. Each chapter will be headed with one
priority or part of a priority; each will also be linked closely
to the relevant objective and PSA targets. We will use the same
chapter pattern as last year, including a section on progress
towards our PSA targets. Treasury have agreed to this approach.
The FCO's Executive Committee will steer work
on the Report this year. The Committee approved in principle the
new Report structure but wished to consult the FAC on the issue.
The FCO would be grateful for the Committee's
views on this and can provide more detailed information if required.
Jane Cordell
Directorate of Strategy and Information
Foreign and Commonwealth Office
1 November 2004
Letter to the Directorate of Strategy
and Information, Foreign and Commonwealth Office, from the Second
Clerk of the Committee, 18 November 2004
FCO ANNUAL DEPARTMENTAL
REPORT
Thank you for your note on the proposed structure
for the next Departmental Report, on which I have consulted the
Committee, as you requested. The Committee is concerned that the
new structure based on the FCO strategic priorities should give
the same level of transparency and quality of information to the
Committee as last year's Report. I would be grateful for your
reassurance that the new Report will render at least as much information
as last year's Report regarding Departmental performance against
Public Service Agreement targets.
Sarah Ioannou
Second Clerk of the Committee
18 November 2004
Letter to the Second Clerk of the Committee
from the Directorate of Strategy and Information, Foreign and
Commonwealth Office, 23 November 2004
Thank you for your letter of 18 November and
for following up the issue of the new structure of the FCO 2004-05
Departmental Report with the Committee.
I can confirm that the new proposed changes
to the Report are only structural and that the new Report will
provide at least the same quality of information as last year,
which includes the reporting on performance against Public Service
Agreement targets.
The Committee should also be assured that the
Department is aiming to provide the same, or better, level of
transparency in its reporting. The FCO considers the Committee's
comments on each Report very carefully. As our Command paper Response
to the FAC's Eighth Report, published today, shows, we intend
not only to continue to include features such as the "Lessons
learned", but to incorporate the Committee's detailed suggestions
for improving them and other features of the Report.
I would be happy to respond to any further queries
the Committee may have.
Jane Cordell
Directorate of Strategy and Information
Foreign and Commonwealth Office
23 November 2004
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