Ministers warned to stop blame game and accept responsibility
THE head of Parliament’s most powerful backbench committee has warned of a “worrying pattern” of ministers “blaming officials for decisions for which they are accountable” in the wake of the Ofqual and Public Health England (PHE) rows.
Sir Bernard Jenkin, who chairs the liaison committee, which has the power to summon the Prime Minister, also said there needed to be a “proper lessons learnt review” of the A-level grading fiasco, to investigate Whitehall’s use of data and algorithms to make policy, and ministers’ role in it.
His comments follow remarks by Gavin Williamson, the Education Secretary, pointing the finger of blame at regulator Ofqual over the grading debacle and the decision by Matt Hancock, the Health Secretary, to scrap PHE and replace it with a new institute after criticism of its response to the pandemic.
Robert Halfon, chairman of the education select committee, has already said they will be investigating the Alevels blunder. The liaison committee is made up of all the selection committee chairs, with powers to hold the Prime Minister to account.
Sir Bernard said any review of the Alevel affair needed to be conducted “without blame or recrimination, so that everyone will feel free to speak and tell the truth”.
“I am very concerned that a pattern seems to be emerging that ministers blame permanent secretaries or public bodies for decisions for which they are accountable. An atmosphere of blame will prevent truth coming out and proper lessons being learnt.”
He said there was also a pattern of ministers “making announcements then finding out that it can’t be done, that it’s very difficult or that there’s no detail or concept except that it sounded like a good idea at the time”.
There have been reports that Jonathan Slater, the permanent secretary at the education department, could be ousted. On Tuesday, Mr Williamson also refused to say he had confidence in Sally Collier, the head of Ofqual.
Sir David Bell, a former permanent secretary at the education department, said he found the targeting of officials “depressing, demotivating and disreputable”. He added: “In the interests of fairness, natural justice and accountability it’s important that there is a proper independent look at what’s happened so everyone can learn lessons. I have great concerns that scapegoating is happening. I don’t think it’s conducive to good government.”
Yesterday Mr Williamson was forced to give his backing to Ofqual just a day after he appeared to shift the blame for the A-levels fiasco onto the regulator. The education department said it had “full confidence” in Ofqual.
Dave Penman, general secretary of the First Division Association, which represents civil servants, said ministers needed to accept that they would be held accountable for decisions, rather than scapegoating and finger pointing at officials.