A cabinet secretrary review of the “organisation, performance and transformation of the permanent civil service” is set to report its findings in early 2027.
The review was trailed by the prime minister last week as part of his announcement of a Cabinet Manual refresh, and follows the inclusion of "reforming the civil service so that it is recognised for excellence in delivery, innovation and improved productivity" among Dame Antonia Romeo's objectives as cabinet secretary.
Since the publication of her objectives in April, Romeo has formally launched a Future Civil Service programme, writing in a blog that her focus is "to build a civil service that is a world class organisation to deliver for ministers and the public".
In a letter to the Public Administration and Constitutional Affairs Committee following up on Starmer’s announcement, Dame Antonia Romeo has given more details on the Cabinet Manual and review plans, including an expected reporting date.
The cab sec said: “The Cabinet Manual update is part of a wider programme of work to strengthen the operation of government, including the review into the organisation, performance and transformation of the permanent civil service, which I have agreed with the prime minister that I will lead, and which will report in a similar timeframe to the updated Cabinet Manual. The government’s ambition is to publish the second edition of the manual in early 2027.”
To enable the Cabinet Manual refresh to be completed in early 2027, Romeo said she plans to share the draft text with PACAC and the House of Lords’ Constitution Committee this autumn, and has asked the committee to help the government to “maintain the timeline”.
Starmer said last week that the manual – which sets out the laws, conventions and rules under which the government operates – has “become significantly out of date, most notably in its descriptions of general elections, the UK’s relationship with the EU, and the devolution settlements”.
The manual, which is primarily an authoritative reference for ministers and civil servants, but also has a role in making the operation of government more accessible to parliament and the public, was first published in 2011 and has not been updated since.
“Its value for ministers and officials, helping them navigate the UK’s constitutional arrangements, has been diminished by this lack of accuracy,” Starmer said.
The PM said the update will “restore the manual’s status as an authoritative guide” and “will also restate and underline the rules and conventions that underpin our democracy”.