Appendix 3: Letter from Dr Tony Wright MP to Lord
Birt
27 October 2005
As you will know the Committee will be inquiring
into strategic thinking and planning in government, under the
heading 'Governing for the Future'. In view of your role as the
Prime Minister's strategy adviser we thought you would be ideally
placed to help the Committee on this by explaining how strategic
thinking is undertaken at the very centre of Government.
As part of putting our programme of work in place
for the autumn, my clerk has been in touch with Cabinet Office
officials since July about our invitation to you to give evidence.
It is disappointing, and surprising, that the Committee has been
kept waiting for a reply. Following the review of the so-called
Osmotherly Rules we were led to believe that there would be a
more helpful approach from Government in meeting requests for
witnesses. Indeed, until very recently the indications from the
Cabinet Office were very positive.
In his oral evidence to the Liaison Committee in
October last year, Peter Hain (then Leader of the House) encouraged
us to believe that there had been "a number of positive and
very significant changes" made to this guidance, in particular,
making clear the presumption that Committees' requests on attendance
of civil servant witnesses, including Special Advisers, would
be agreed to. This is reflected in the new published guidance.
Even as recently as this month, Sir Gus O'Donnell
told us emphatically that he "was supportive of people coming
before [the Committee]".
Your recent interview with the Guardian and your
McTaggart Lecture at the Edinburgh Television Festival this summer
suggest to us that your current duties clearly do not inhibit
you from undertaking some public speaking. For our part, we would
very much value your insight on how good strategy is made. I hope,
therefore, we can now look forward to receiving a prompt, and
positive, reply to our invitation.
Dr Tony Wright MP
Chair of the Public Administration Select Committee
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