Written question WQ98863

The Welsh Government continues to engage actively with counterparts across the UK, and more widely, on civil service modernisation through a range of formal and informal networks. These include cross-government functional communities, professional networks, and senior leadership forums.

This work has been strengthened since the election through the establishment of the enhanced Cabinet Office structure to support greater alignment, movement of capability, and a sharper focus on delivery. The Cabinet Office brings together strategic direction and prioritisation, cross-government delivery coordination, national security and resilience, international relations, constitutional issues, strategic communications, the delivery of the Welsh Government’s legislative programme and the management of the Welsh Government’s finances and fiscal strategy.

Effectiveness is central to this approach and is being driven through a consistent focus on:

• strong and visible leadership

• clear accountability and organisational alignment

• effective deployment and movement of skills and capability

• high-quality use of data and evidence in decision-making

• efficient, modern systems and processes that support delivery

• a sustained focus on outcomes and impact for the people of Wales

Engagement with counterparts enables the sharing of experience and learning on key areas such as digital transformation, workforce capability, organisational design, and strengthening delivery.

We identify effective approaches from other administrations and consider how these might be adapted to the Welsh context. This includes learning in areas such as improving the use of data to support decision-making, developing professional capability, and modernising systems and processes.

Engagement remains ongoing and provides an important mechanism for ensuring that our approach in Wales reflects civil service best practice, while maintaining a sustained focus on outcomes and impact for the people of Wales.