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Government’s Decision Making Lacks Transparency, Commons Committee Finds

by Michael Curzon
15 March 2021 12:29 PM

The House of Commons Public Administration and Constitutional Affairs Select Committee has released a damning report highlighting the lack of transparency from the Government on key policy decisions relating to lockdowns. Jade Eloise Norris, a Clinical Trial Senior Research Associate at Bristol University, has written a handy thread on the key points from the report.

The @CommonsPACAC have published their report on 'Covid-19 and data driven decision making'

Some key bits below:https://t.co/r8bFEJBFRd

— Jade Eloise Norris (@jadenozzz) March 15, 2021

The report expresses particular dismay at the unwillingness of Ministers to come before the Committee and justify key decisions made over the last year.

There is a basic expectation that Ministers should be able to justify key decisions through explaining the various data considered. The Committee expected that Ministers would be able to talk us through: 

– the types of data that were considered;

– how public health and other considerations were balanced;

– the governance and accountability arrangements underpinning decisions. 

So it is deeply worrying that Ministers were unable to answer basic questions about the decision to lift the first lockdown. 

Lifting any of the lockdowns must have considered a range of factors, including health, economic and educational outcomes. 

It is, therefore, our judgement that such decisions can only be made by the Centre of Government, in the Cabinet Office or Number 10. When we have asked about these decisions – both in writing and in person – the Cabinet Office has passed the buck to the Department of Health and Social Care. 

This is both confusing and unacceptable because the Department of Health and Social Care is clearly not well placed to make decisions that include wider considerations beyond health.

This passing of the buck continued long after the ending of the first national lockdown. In November, the Treasury admitted that it did not forecast or predict the impact of the second national lockdown on the economy before it came into force. Maybe it thought that this too was the responsibility of the Department of Health and Social Care.

Worth reading in full.

Tags: House of Commons Public Administration and Constitutional Affairs Select CommitteeLockdown

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9 Comments
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Freecumbria
Freecumbria
4 years ago

Interesting article, thanks.

In summary they’re making it up as they go along

7
0
steve_w
steve_w
4 years ago
Reply to  Freecumbria

they have to make it up as they go along because the threw the pandemic response plan in the bin!

10
0
Freecumbria
Freecumbria
4 years ago
Reply to  steve_w

Reminds me of the Reginald Perrin sales area decision making

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TCd2CJm8txk

5
0
steve_w
steve_w
4 years ago
Reply to  Freecumbria

very good!

1
0
karenovirus
karenovirus
4 years ago

‘Government decision making (re lockdown measures) lacks transparency . . .’
It took a Clinical Trial Senior Research Associate to come up with that after an enquiry.
We’ve been telling them that free of charge for nearly 12 months.

5
0
RickH
RickH
4 years ago

Given the nature of parliamentary language, this is about as strong as it gets, and the kick in the goolies for Gove is entirely welcome.

But, of course, nothing much will happen, and will be highlighted by the simple fact that there will be no retribution for Gobby Gove …. because underlying the surface is the actuality of a bedrock of falsehood that will not be revealed. That would blow apart the whole framework that is the rotten structure of the British constitution and the pretend game of its democratic institutions. Even the fable of the ‘non-political’ monarchy has been blown apart by the shit-show in one utterance from the failing Brenda. Then work your way down the tree.

3
0
karenovirus
karenovirus
4 years ago

This is the end.

17.40 mon 15/3/21 RT UK livecam

20210315_174028.jpg
Last edited 4 years ago by karenovirus
2
0
karenovirus
karenovirus
4 years ago
Reply to  karenovirus

The Sun webcam, same time

20210315_174650.jpg
0
0
karenovirus
karenovirus
4 years ago
Reply to  karenovirus

Because Racism

20210316_043702.jpg
0
0

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