Hutton inquiry prompts MPs probe

The Hutton inquiry has raised questions about government

The role of leadership and management across Whitehall is to come under the scrutiny of an influential group of MPs following concerns thrown up by the Hutton inquiry.

The public administration committee will probe the entire operation of the machinery of government and the Downing Street press office.

Alastair Campbell, the outgoing communications director, his successor David Hill and Sir Andrew Turnbull, head of the home civil service, are all likely to be called to give evidence.

We have no intention of reopening any previous inquiry or seeking to examine wider policy issues Tony Wright

MPs will pay particular attention to the findings of Lord Hutton's inquiry into the death of weapons expert Dr David Kelly.

Home Secretary David Blunkett has told the Times newspaper he wants teachers to use the inquiry in a positive way to teach young people about open government and the pressures put on human beings.

The MPs' committee will also look at results from the Phillis Review into government communications ordered after the furore caused by former spin doctor Jo Moore, who infamously described 11 September, 2001, as a "good day to bury bad news".

The initial findings from the Phillis review prompted the prime minister to appoint a top civil servant in charge of the overall communications strategy.

Problems

David Hill will be a purely political figure without his predecessor's powers to order civil servants about, a move said to signal a shift away from the administration's focus on "spin".

Tony Wright, chairman of the public administration committee, said: "The machinery of government is currently under fierce scrutiny. Two inquiries... are subjecting the whole system of public administration ton serious examination.

Mr Hill will be a 'purely political figure'

"The Hutton inquiry is helping to answer many specific questions about the events leading to Dr Kelly's death, but its remit is limited and inevitably it is raising a series of general concerns about wider issues of public administration which it is not designed to answer.

"These include the role of leadership and management across Whitehall and especially that of the Home Civil Service and of the Cabinet Office as the department with overall responsibility for management of the service.

"In a logical progression from our continuing examination of the work of the Cabinet Office and the new centre of government, we wish to look at these broader questions and draw conclusions about the ability of the system to prevent future problems wherever they occur in Whitehall.

"We have no intention of reopening any previous inquiry or seeking to examine wider policy issues.

"In this inquiry we also plan to examine the implications of the conclusions of both Hutton and Phillis about the performance and approach of government press officers.

"The government has already accepted some radical proposals for change in the management of the Government Information and Communication Service and Number 10 press office and we will be seeking evidence both on that and on the Phillis report which will follow that of the Hutton inquiry."