Institute for Government

Institute for Government/Bennett Institute 'Review of the UK Constitution' launch event. From Supreme Court interventions to accusations of ‘dead parliaments’, the Brexit impact to the pandemic response, a tumultuous period in British politics has put the UK constitution under huge strain and undermined public faith in how the UK is governed. Calls for change have come from all sides. Should the UK’s constitution be codified? Does parliament have enough power to hold the government to account? Are the courts going too far in diluting government power? Does the role of the House of Lords and the monarchy need rethinking? Is devolution working – and do we need more of it? How do governments deal with the public and can trust be restored? While the last five years have brought the constitution’s sustainability into question, they have also created a real opportunity to reinvigorate UK democracy, restore trust in the political system and improve the way that government works. But without a clear vision for the future, the UK risks yet more constitutional confusion and conflict. Over the next 18 months, the Institute for Government and the Bennett Institute of Public Policy at the University of Cambridge, backed by a distinguished advisory panel, will undertake an impartial, non-partisan review of the constitution before setting out recommendations for change for this and future governments to follow. This event launched this major joint project, exploring how well the UK constitution is working and the problems that now need to be addressed. On the panel to discuss the UK constitution and the problems faced, were: Dr Halima Begum, Chief Executive of the Runnymede Trust The Rt Hon Robert Buckland QC, former Lord Chancellor and Secretary of State for Justice; current Member of Parliament for South Swindon Professor Ciaran Martin, former Chief Executive of the National Cyber Security Centre; now Professor of Practice in the Management of Public Organisations at Blavatnik School of Government, Oxford University Baroness Smith of Basildon, Shadow Leader of the House of Lords This event was chaired by Bronwen Maddox, Director of the Institute for Government. Professor Michael Kenny, Director of the Bennett Institute for Public Policy at the University of Cambridge, provided some opening remarks on the review. #IfGBennettInst

Better use of data is key to more effective government. Across government, teams are doing fascinating work with data. But those projects don’t get the attention they deserve. At this month's event, the 26th in our series, the speakers presented their work in an exciting, quickfire format. Each speaker has eight minutes, followed by eight minutes of questions from the audience. This month's speakers were: Hamish Dibley, Director at BearingPoint, on how humanising the use of NHS data leads to performance improvement and better person outcomes John Bryant, Head of Strategy and Development, Torbay Council, on Greener Care Collaborative: Releasing Time to Care Arnie King, Research and Policy Lead at Coproduce Care CIC, on social care voice data for those receiving ‘worst outcomes’ Juliana Outes Velarde, Data Steward at the Government Outcomes Lab, Blavatnik School of Government (University of Oxford), on better data for social outcomes The event was chaired by Gavin Freeguard, Associate at the Institute for Government. #IfGDataBites We would like to thank BearingPoint for supporting this event.

The long-awaited government white paper on levelling up is due to be published in early 2022, but the government alone cannot pay for the policies needed to help the UK’s left-behind areas. So what can ministers do to involve the private sector in shaping and delivering the levelling up agenda? What more can be done to unlock greater private sector investment? How can private investment deliver social as well as economic impact? What lessons can be drawn from previous public-private partnerships to deliver major infrastructure improvements? To discuss these questions, the IfG was delighted to host an expert panel including: Kevin Hollinrake MP, Co-Chair of the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Fair Business Banking and member of the House of Commons Treasury Select Committee Stephen Muers, Chief Executive Officer at Big Society Capital Sara Williams, CEO of the Staffordshire Chambers of Commerce John Wrathmell, Director, Strategy, Research and Economy at the Greater Manchester Combined Authority. The event was chaired by Dr Gemma Tetlow, Chief Economist at the Institute for Government. We would like to thank Big Society Capital for supporting this event.

The government's Subsidy Control Bill sets out how the UK will replace EU state aid rules, but will this deliver a post-Brexit dividend, and how will the UK's system change how subsidies are offered? With the bill having passed through the House of Commons and set to be scrutinised in the House of Lords, this Institute for Government panel will explore the opportunities – and risks – of setting up a bespoke post-Brexit state aid regime. While leaving the EU allows the UK's system to focus domestic concerns and government priorities like reaching net zero, a poorly designed system could mean poor regulation of subsidies and creating legal uncertainty. Will the new system provide the additional flexibility, freedom and certainty that the government has promised – or is it a recipe for confusion? And as the legislation is scrutinised in parliament, how can it be improved to ensure it delivers for UK governments, public bodies and businesses? On our panel to discuss these issues: Peter Foster, Public Policy Editor at the Financial Times George Peretz QC, Barrister at Monckton Chambers Thomas Pope, Deputy Chief Economist at the Institute for Government Rahat Siddique, Economist at the Confederation of British Industry The event began with a short presentation by Thomas Pope, summarising the new system and presenting initial conclusions on its effectiveness. The event was chaired by Dr Gemma Tetlow, Chief Economist at the Institute for Government.

Having introduced a legally binding target to achieve net zero by 2050 and with the Environment Act – designed to enforce UK environmental standards – now on the statute book, the UK government is proud of its green achievements. But does the UK’s post-Brexit independent trade policy live up to its domestic environmental commitments? Earlier this year the UK agreed to omit references to temperature goals committed to in the Paris Agreement in order to secure a free trade agreement with Australia – an agreement which, on the government’s own analysis, will result in increased use of scarce natural resources and increased waste. So does the UK need to do more to position its environmental goals at the heart of its trade policy or would this hinder the UK’s ability to strike deals across the globe? Can trade policy help deliver positive gains for the environment? And should the UK government set out an overarching trade policy to bring consistency and coherence to its trade deals? To answer these questions, and to explore what goals UK trade policy is – or ought to be – serving, the Institute for Government was delighted to bring together an expert panel including: Sir Martin Donnelly, former Permanent Secretary for the Department for International Trade (DIT) and for the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (now BEIS) Dmitry Grozoubinski, Director of ExplainTrade Anna Sands, Trade Policy Specialist at WWF UK Chris Southworth, Secretary General of the International Chamber of Commerce The event was chaired by Jill Rutter, Senior Fellow at the Institute for Government. #IfGTrade We would like to thank WWF UK for supporting this event.

Two years ago, Boris Johnson was elected on a promise to ‘get Brexit done’ and ‘level up’ the UK. Then Covid-19 struck and dominated government time, energy and resources. But with the worst of the crisis now passed, and with the UK having left the EU, where will ministers turn their attention in the second half of the parliament – and is the government well set up to deliver its priorities? Is Brexit really ‘done’? Do the government’s ‘net zero’ plans add up? Does more need to be done to support the post-pandemic economic recovery? And how will the government turn its flagship ‘levelling up’ slogan into reality? The Institute for Government was delighted to bring together the following expert panel to reveal the inner workings of government – and discuss whether Boris Johnson’s administration is well-placed to deliver its manifesto promises: Kelly Beaver, Chief Executive of Ipsos MORI Stephen Bush, Political Editor at the New Statesman Dan Corry, Chief Executive of New Philanthropy Capital and former Head of the No.10 Policy Unit Jill Rutter, Senior Fellow at the Institute for Government. The event was chaired by Alex Thomas, Programme Director at the Institute for Government. We would like to thank PA Consulting for supporting this event.

The UK’s two decade-long campaign in Afghanistan ended this summer with the withdrawal of British troops and diplomatic personnel from Kabul. A mission that began with the overthrow of the Taliban ended with the Taliban returning to power. What did the UK’s 20-year stay in Afghanistan accomplish? Should politicians or the military take the blame for its failures? And how should Afghans and the international community approach the next phase of Taliban rule? To discuss these questions the Institute for Government was delighted to bring together: Jack Straw, UK Foreign Secretary (2001–05) Hasina Safi, Afghanistan's acting Minister for Women (May 2020 – August 2021) Tobias Ellwood MP, Chair of the Commons Defence Select Committee The discussion was chaired by Bronwen Maddox, Director of the Institute for Government.

The Institute for Government was delighted to welcome John Pullinger, Chair of the Electoral Commission, who was in conversation with Bronwen Maddox, Director of the Institute for Government. With voter ID, political party funding, and the abuse of candidates all in the spotlight, is enough being done to inspire the confidence of voters, parties and politicians in the electoral system? More than six months after becoming Chair of the Electoral Commission, John Pullinger discussed the challenges facing UK democracy and some of the changes voters might see in the months ahead. This in conversation event also explored issues relating to John Pullinger's previous role as National Statistician. John Pullinger was appointed Chair of the Electoral Commission in May 2021. Until 2019, he was the UK’s National Statistician and Chief Executive of the UK Statistics Authority. He has served as President of the Royal Statistical Society, Chair of the United Nations Statistical Commission, and Librarian and Director General for Information Services at the House of Commons. #IfGElections

The Institute for Government was pleased to welcome the Rt Hon Angela Rayner MP, Shadow Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, Deputy Leader of the Opposition and Shadow First Secretary of State, to deliver a keynote speech setting out how Labour would reform the systems that govern standards in public life. She was then in conversation with Bronwen Maddox, Director of the Institute for Government. The row over Owen Paterson’s paid lobbying and the wider debate it has stimulated about MPs’ second jobs have again brought into the spotlight the systems designed to uphold ethical standards in public life. As well as the codes and institutions governing MPs, the rules about how ministers should behave and the processes that uphold these standards have been called into question. In her speech, Angela Rayner set out how Labour would redesign those rules, strengthen existing standards bodies and put new institutions in place to uphold standards in public life. Angela Rayner has been the MP for Ashton-under-Lyne since 2015. She holds a number of roles including: Shadow Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster and Shadow Minister for the Cabinet Office, Shadow Secretary of State for the Future of Work; Shadow Deputy Prime Minister; Shadow First Secretary of State and Deputy Leader of the Labour Party.

What does it mean to be a member of parliament? What do people expect from their elected representatives? And how much have these expectations changed in recent years? The row about MPs’ second jobs has triggered a discussion about what MPs are for and what their priorities should be. From representing constituents and dealing with casework to scrutinising government and improving legislation, MPs have many responsibilities. So how should an MP divide his or her time? How has this changed over recent years? Should MPs be taking on extra paid work outside parliament? And what do constituents ultimately want from their representative? To discuss these questions and more, the IfG brought together an expert panel: Tim Bale, Professor of Politics at Queen Mary, University of London Sir Peter Bottomley, Conservative MP for Worthing West Ben Lake, Plaid Cymru MP for Ceredigion Marie Le Conte, political journalist and author This event was chaired by Dr Catherine Haddon, Senior Fellow at the Institute for Government. #IfGParliament

The use of data has been at the forefront of the government’s handling of Brexit shocks and the Covid-crisis. But how can data best be used to address government priorities such as net zero, “levelling up”, and tackling the social and economic scarring from the pandemic? This IfG event discussed how improvements can be made to the way governments identify data and use it to help make decisions. What have the experiences of Brexit and the pandemic revealed about the government’s use of data? What are the limits of data-driven decision making? How can governments better tap into external data expertise? On our panel to discuss these questions were: John Burn-Murdoch, Chief Data Reporter at the Financial Times Jane Duncan, Partner, Workforce Advisory, EY Niamh McKenna, Chief Information Officer at NHS Resolution Matt Warman MP, former Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Digital Infrastructure The event was chaired by Alex Thomas, Programme Director at the Institute for Government.

Having 'taken back control’ of the UK border after Brexit, the government has ended free movement of people and introduced a new points-based immigration system. But 10 months on, the UK labour market is under pressure, with a combination of Covid-19, Brexit, and other structural forces causing widespread shortages of workers. To what extent has the new immigration regime contributed to these labour problems? Is the UK worse affected than other countries? Will there be longer-term benefits from the new immigration regime? Has Brexit made the UK more or less able to address labour market issues? And how is the government making the most of its new-found control? To discuss these issues, we were joined by an expert panel: Seema Farazi, Partner, Financial Services, Immigration and Brexit at EY Madeleine Sumption, Director of the Migration Observatory Giles Wilkes, Senior Fellow at the Institute for Government Paul Wilson, Policy Director at the Federation of Small Businesses The event was chaired by Dr Gemma Tetlow, Chief Economist at the Institute for Government.

How we are taxed will be crucial to how government pays for net zero. It can use the tax system to incentivise sustainable choices by businesses and consumers as well as disincentivise harmful ones. But government revenues will also fall as people and businesses adapt their behaviour to reduce carbon emissions, with the shift to electric vehicles set to eliminate fuel duties. So what changes are needed to ensure the tax system raises revenue to fund public interventions, redistributes the costs of getting to net zero, and shores up the tax take as fuel duties decline? This event was held after a busy autumn of net zero strategies, a budget and COP26. It asked how the government should adapt the tax system to reach net zero and whether the budget was a missed opportunity, look at the steps being taken in other countries, and set out how to overcome the barriers – political and otherwise – to reform. On our panel to discuss these issues: Rt Hon David Gauke, Head of Public Policy at Macfarlanes LLP and former Financial Secretary to the Treasury James Murray MP, Shadow Financial Secretary to the Treasury Chris Stark, Chief Executive of the Committee on Climate Change Amanda Tickel, Head of Tax & Trade Policy for Deloitte UK The event was chaired by Dr Gemma Tetlow, Chief Economist at the Institute for Government. This event is kindly supported by Deloitte LLP. #IfGnetzero

As part of our ongoing series of events on devolution and the Union, the Institute for Government was delighted to welcome John Swinney MSP, the Deputy First Minister of Scotland. What is the state of the relationship between the UK and Scottish governments? How well is devolution working for Scotland? What are the current tensions in the devolved settlement and how can they be resolved? John Swinney, who is also Scotland’s cabinet minister for Covid recovery, gave a short speech before being in conversation with Akash Paun, Senior Fellow at the Institute for Government, and programme lead for devolution. John Swinney has been an MSP since 1999, and currently represents Perthshire North. From 1998 to 2000, he served as deputy leader of the SNP, and then as party leader between 2000 and 2004. He has previously served as Cabinet Secretary for Finance, Constitution and Economy, and as Cabinet Secretary for Education and Skills. He has been Deputy First Minister since 2014. #IfGDevo

As part of our ongoing series of events on the future of devolution across the UK, the Institute for Government was delighted to welcome Andy Street, Mayor of the West Midlands and leader of the West Midlands Combined Authority. Six months after his re-election to a second term in office, Andy Street – who was in conversation with Akash Paun, Senior Fellow at the Institute for Government – discussed his role as a ‘metro mayor’, the constraints he faces in the role, and how metro mayors can help deliver the government’s levelling up and net zero objectives. Andy Street started his career at the John Lewis Partnership in 1985 as a trainee at Brent Cross and rose to become the managing director in 2007. He resigned in order to stand for election, and was successfully elected in May 2017 as the Conservative Mayor of the West Midlands. He was subsequently re-elected to this position in May 2021. #IfGDevo

Better use of data is key to more effective government. Across government, teams are doing fascinating work with data. But those projects don’t get the attention they deserve. At this month's event, the 24th in our series, the speakers presented their work in an exciting, quickfire format. Each speaker had eight minutes, followed by eight minutes of questions from the audience. This month's speakers were: Harry Lee, Deputy Director, Data Protection and Data Rights at the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, on the government's 'Data: a new direction' consultation. Selvin Brown MBE, Senior Responsible Officer – Net Zero Building Delivery at the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, and Alastair Vetch, Client Service Partner at Slalom, on establishing a culture of data-led policy delivery Brhmie Balaram, Head of AI Research & Ethics at NHSX AI Lab, on the work of the AI Ethics Initiative and the ethical questions it is addressing about the use of AI in health and care Toby Jolly, Grants Reporting and Analysis Lead at the Cabinet Office, on using automation to make government grantmaking more transparent. The event was chaired by Gavin Freeguard, Associate at the Institute for Government. We took questions virtually during the event via the integrated event chat.

In the past year, the public appointments process has been in the public eye with allegations of politicisation. The process is much misunderstood and there is widespread uncertainty about the balance between the principles of fair and open competition and decision making by ministers. Is that balance now under threat? And what other roles should be formally regulated? What are the barriers to expanding the range of people serving on the boards of arms-length bodies? In the closing speech of our conference, Peter Riddell, who was the Commissioner for Public Appointments until September 2021, gave his thoughts on how the appointment process can be improved. Dr Matthew Gill, Senior Fellow at the Institute for Government, responded to Peter’s speech. This event was chaired by Dr Catherine Haddon, Senior Fellow at the Institute for Government. #IfGstandards

The UK government has faced criticism over its approach to standards, but it is not the only government around the world – or even within the UK – grappling with these questions. With other governments taking different approaches to setting and upholding rules for standards in public life, this panel discussion will explore what the UK can learn about upholding standards from governments across the world, what role parliaments play in this process and whether standards need a stronger legislative basis. We were joined by: Mario Dion, Conflict of Interest and Ethics Commissioner of the Canadian Parliament Duncan Hames, Director of Policy Transparency International UK Dr Melissa McCullough, Commissioner for Standards at the Northern Ireland assembly This event was chaired by Tim Durrant, Associate Director at the Institute for Government. #IfGstandards

Various codes of conduct and constitutional guides – including the ministerial code – set standards for those in public life. However, events throughout 2021 have raised questions about whether the rules, and the various bodies that enforce them, are robust enough to uphold expected standards of behaviour. So how can the various standards watchdogs hold ministers, officials and others to account for their behaviour in public life? Are current sanction sufficient? Should these bodies have greater legal powers and more independence from government? To discuss all this and we were joined by: Chris Bryant MP, Chair of the Committee on Standards and Privileges Dame Shirley Pearce DBE, Member of the Committee on Standards in Public Life Lord Pickles, Chair of the Advisory Committee on Business Appointments (ACOBA) This event was chaired by Dr Hannah White, Deputy Director at the Institute for Government. #IfGstandards

The Committee on Standards in Public Life (CSPL) is an independent body which advises the prime minister on arrangements for upholding ethical standards of conduct across public life. The committee’s latest review, Standards Matter 2, has been examining the institutions, processes and structures in place to support high standards of conduct. Following the publication of the review’s final report, Upholding Standards in Public Life, on 1 November, Lord Evans, Chair of the CSPL, set out the committee’s suggestions for improving standards in government in an opening keynote. This event was chaired by Bronwen Maddox, Director of the Institute for Government. #IfGstandards

The Conservative Party’s 2019 manifesto promised an ambitious plan for connecting towns and cities by road and rail and supporting electric vehicles, cycling and walking. But what evidence will the government use to shape its transport strategy and how can it ensure the system is customer-focused? How has England’s transport network held up under the dual pressures of Brexit and the Covid-19 pandemic? And how can a transport strategy support net zero goals? Following recent research from the Institute for Government and the Gatsby Foundation, which analysed the use of evidence in transport policy in the UK and compared it to four other countries, the IfG was delighted to bring together an expert panel to discuss whether England needs a single transport strategy, the challenges involved in putting such a strategy in place, and how the system can be resilient to shocks and crises whilst reducing carbon emissions and keeping the focus on user experience. On our panel to discuss these issues were: Lord Adonis, former Secretary of State for Transport Sue Kershaw, Managing Director for Transportation at Costain and APM President Bridget Rosewell CBE, Commissioner on the National Infrastructure Commission Martin Tugwell, Chief Executive at Transport for the North The event was chaired by Alex Thomas, Programme Director at the Institute for Government. We would like to thank Costain for kindly supporting this event.

From targeted social media campaigns during elections to the introduction of the Covid-19 test and trace app, questions about our data – and how it is used – are at the heart of political decision making and debate. With Elizabeth Denham’s five-year term as information commissioner ending on 31 October, this Institute for Government event looked back at her time in post – and looked ahead to future challenges, and opportunities, for data use and protection. In conversation with Bronwen Maddox, Director of the Institute of Government, Elizabeth Denham discussed the questions of freedom of information and transparency raised during the pandemic, how data can be shared responsibly and lead to digital transformation of public services, and how countries around the world can work together to meet digital threats. Elizabeth Denham was appointed UK Information Commissioner in July 2016, having previously held the position of Information and Privacy Commissioner for British Columbia, Canada and Assistant Privacy Commissioner of Canada. She was awarded Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) in Queen's New Year's Honours list in 2018.

To listen to the full conversation visit https://soundcloud.com/institute-for-government/david-nabarro

To listen to the full conversation visit https://soundcloud.com/institute-for-government/david-nabarro

To listen to the full conversation visit https://soundcloud.com/institute-for-government/david-nabarro

To listen to the full conversation visit https://soundcloud.com/institute-for-government/david-nabarro

To listen to the full conversation visit https://soundcloud.com/institute-for-government/david-nabarro

As the World Health Organization’s Special Envoy on Covid-19, Dr David Nabarro has played a leading role in the international response to the pandemic. In conversation with Bronwen Maddox, Director of the Institute for Government, he discussed the international community’s handling of the crisis – from the initial outbreak in early 2020, to public health measures used to curb transmission, to current vaccination programmes. As the international vaccine rollout continues, but with high numbers of Covid-19 cases across the world, Professor Nabarro also set out how countries can best manage this phase of the pandemic – and what needs to be done to ensure we are better prepared in the future. David Nabarro is co-director and chair of Global Health at Imperial College London’s Institute of Global Health Innovation and strategic director of 4SD. In March 2020 he was appointed Special Envoy of WHO Director-General on Covid-19. He has over 40 years of experience in international public health as a community-based practitioner, educator, public servant, director and diplomat. He was awarded Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) for work on international public health in 1992.

With a week to go until Rishi Sunak sets out his multi-year spending review, the chancellor faces difficult decisions about how to fund public services. The pandemic has hit services hard. Children have lost hours of learning, waiting times for court cases are longer, and a backlog for operations has built up. So what spending choices must Sunak make? What is the pandemic’s impact on spending, staff, and service performance? And where might pressures intensify in the next three years? As the Institute for Government and the Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy launch the sixth edition of Performance Tracker – a data-driven analysis of the performance of key public services in England, including prisons, hospitals, schools, police and adult social care – its lead author Graham Atkins, Associate Director at the Institute for Government, presented the key findings. To discuss, our panel included: Justine Greening, former Secretary of State for Education and former Economic Secretary to the Treasury Anoosh Chakelian, Britain Editor at the New Statesman Mike Driver CB, President of the Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy (CIPFA) The event was chaired by Dr Gemma Tetlow, Chief Economist at the Institute for Government, with an introduction by Jeffrey Matsu, Chief Economist at CIPFA. We would like to thank the Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy (CIPFA) for supporting this event.

To listen to the full conversation visit https://soundcloud.com/institute-for-government/gavin-barwell-chief-staff

To listen to the full conversation visit https://soundcloud.com/institute-for-government/gavin-barwell-chief-staff

To listen to the full conversation visit https://soundcloud.com/institute-for-government/gavin-barwell-chief-staff

To listen to the full conversation visit https://soundcloud.com/institute-for-government/gavin-barwell-chief-staff

As Theresa May’s chief of staff from 2017 to 2019, Gavin Barwell had a front row seat for the Brexit dramas, deals and deadlines that defined May’s premiership. Brought into Number 10 after May lost her majority at the 2017 general election, Barwell battled alongside the former prime minister through meaningful votes, cabinet resignations and moments of high parliamentary drama. But what exactly does a chief of staff do? What lessons should be learnt from May’s time in Number 10? And just how dysfunctional is the centre of power? To mark the publication of Chief of Staff: Notes from Downing Street, Gavin Barwell was in conversation with the Institute for Government’s Dr Catherine Haddon.

COP26 has been called the “last best chance” for the world to avoid catastrophic climate change, and the UK has an opportunity to broker a landmark agreement. But turning months of preparation into an ambitious deal won’t be easy. Success will depend not only on diplomatic skill but on leading by example in demonstrating how to achieve a transition to net zero. With less than a month until the conference, what are the potential sticking points in negotiations? And what must the UK do to ensure that the COP26 is a success? On our panel to discuss these questions: Allegra Stratton, Prime Minister's spokesperson for the COP26 conference James Close, Head of Climate Centre of Excellence and Environment at NatWest Group Simon Eaves, CEO for Accenture in the UK and Ireland Emma Howard Boyd, Chair of the Environment Agency and interim Chair of the Green Finance Institute The event was chaired by Tom Sasse, Associate Director at the Institute for Government. We would like to thank Accenture for kindly supporting this event.

To listen to the full conversation visit https://soundcloud.com/institute-for-government/getting-cities-to-net-zero

To listen to the full conversation visit https://soundcloud.com/institute-for-government/getting-cities-to-net-zero

To listen to the full conversation visit https://soundcloud.com/institute-for-government/getting-cities-to-net-zero

To listen to the full conversation visit https://soundcloud.com/institute-for-government/getting-cities-to-net-zero

Hitting the UK’s net zero target depends on the transformation of the UK’s cities. Many had already declared climate emergencies and set ambitious emissions targets before the pandemic, while big changes in the last 18 months – less commuting, more walking and cycling – have had big implications for urban areas. But to help people permanently shift to low-carbon lifestyles requires local leaders to develop long-term approaches to infrastructure, taxes and regulations. What needs to be done to ensure long-term transformation? Which pandemic-enforced changes should remain in place? How can cities and central government work together to make progress towards net zero? On our panel to discuss these questions: Baroness Blake of Leeds, Shadow Spokesperson for Housing, Communities and Local Government and former Leader of Leeds City Council Professor Hayley Fowler, Professor of Climate Change Impacts in the School of Engineering at Newcastle University Christopher Hammond, Network Membership Director, UK100 Steve Turner, Director, Devolved and Local Government at Connected Places Catapult The event was chaired by Tom Sasse, Associate Director at the Institute for Government, with opening remarks by Giles Clifford, Partner at Gowling WLG. We would like to thank Gowling WLG for supporting this event.

Better use of data is key to more effective government. Across government, teams are doing fascinating work with data. But those projects don’t get the attention they deserve. At this month's event, the 23rd in our series, the speakers presented their work in an exciting, quickfire format. Each speaker had eight minutes, followed by eight minutes of questions from the audience. This month's speakers were: Or Lenchner, CEO of Bright Data, presenting lessons learned from how the commercial world draws insight from online public data Andrew Engeli, Deputy Director for Environmental Monitoring for Health Protection at the UK Health Security Agency, on the challenges of developing novel data sources in the context of the pandemic response Bethan Charnley, Head of National Data Strategy Implementation at the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, on monitoring and evaluating the National Data Strategy Patrick Royce, Energy Engineer at the Department of Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, on the My2050 Calculator for exploring pathways to net zero The event was chaired by Gavin Freeguard, Associate at the Institute for Government.

Science has played a key role in the Covid crisis, and the pandemic has shone a light on the way government accesses, uses and communicates scientific evidence and data. This panel discussed the lessons learned and how the government can use science effectively to achieve its aim of making the UK a “science superpower”. This event was part of the IfG's fringe events programme at the 2021 Conservative Party Conference in Manchester. Speakers: Rt Hon Greg Clark MP, Chair of the Science and Technology Select Committee Polly Toynbee, Columnist at The Guardian Professor Ian Walmsley FRS, Provost at Imperial College London Sir Mark Walport, Fellow at the Royal Society This event was chaired by Tom Sasse, Associate Director at the Institute for Government. Kindly supported by Imperial College London and the Royal Society.

Homes produce 15% of the UK’s emissions, and little progress has been made on decarbonising their energy use. The UK needs local solutions to this problem. But local governments lack the resources, powers and capabilities needed. We considered the roles of central and local government, and how to drive progress towards the UK’s net zero goals. This event was part of the IfG's fringe events programme at the 2021 Conservative Party Conference in Manchester. Speakers: Lord Callanan, Minister for Business, Energy and Corporate Responsibility Joss Clarke, Director of External Affairs at SGN Laura Sandys, Chair of the Energy Digitalisation Taskforce Councillor Dan Watkins, Deputy Cabinet Member for Highways and Transport for Kent County Council This event was chaired by Tom Sasse, Associate Director at the Institute for Government. Kindly supported by SGN.

Growing waiting lists, staff burnout, and a social care system in urgent need of reform. With a spending review imminent, this event discussed spending pressures on health and care, how to pay for them, and whether the government will be able to meet its pledges to build 40 new hospitals and recruit tens of thousands of nurses, doctors, and GPs. This event was part of the IfG's fringe events programme at the 2021 Conservative Party Conference in Manchester. Speakers: Paul Bristow MP, Member of the Health and Social Care Committee Anita Charlesworth, Director of Research and the REAL Centre at the Health Foundation Sarah Neville, Global Health Editor at the Financial Times Dr Gemma Tetlow, Chief Economist at the Institute for Government This event was chaired by Graham Atkins, Associate Director at the Institute for Government. Kindly supported by the Health Foundation.

Coronavirus has led to the rapid adoption of technologies that have been contemplated for years but had not been widely used before the crisis. There has been a fundamental shift towards delivering services remotely, such as school lessons, NHS appointments, and court hearings being conducted via video, telephone and text messages. Without this, many services would have ground to a halt. What impact has the increased use of technology had on the quality, efficiency and accessibility of public services? This event was part of the IfG's fringe events programme at the 2021 Conservative Party Conference in Manchester. Speakers: Matt Warman MP, Former Parliamentary Under Secretary of State at DCMS Syma Cullasy-Aldridge, Director of External Affairs and Growth at PUBLIC Professor Martin Marshall, Chair of the Royal College of General Practitioners Council Elaine Whyte, Partner PA Consulting This event was chaired by Alex Thomas, Programme Director at the Institute for Government. Kindly supported by PA Consulting.

The government thinks that investing in major energy, transport and infrastructure projects can help 'level up' the UK. Can it? What would a national transport or energy investment strategy to achieve 'levelling up' look like? How can government get the balance right between mega-project investment and incremental improvement? Are there successes it can learn from? This event was part of the IfG's fringe events programme at the 2021 Conservative Party Conference in Manchester. Speakers: Baroness Vere of Norbiton, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State at the Department for Transport Ben Bradley MP, Member of Parliament for Mansfield, Nottinghamshire Julian Glover, Writer and infrastructure adviser Maria Machancoses, Chief Executive Officer at Midlands Connect This event was chaired by Alex Thomas, Programme Director at the Institute for Government. Kindly supported by Midlands Connect.

‘Levelling up’ is one of the government’s main priorities. There are big differences in health between different parts of the country and improving health may be one of the most effective ways to boost the economy. This event explored how improving health can improve economic performance and what policies are most likely to achieve this. This event was part of the IfG's fringe events programme at the 2021 Conservative Party Conference in Manchester. Speakers: Jake Berry MP, Chairman of the Northern Research Group and former Minister of State for the Northern Powerhouse Jo Bibby, Director of Health at the Health Foundation Caitlin Doherty, Westminster Correspondent at the Yorkshire Post Edleen John, Director for International Relations, Corporate Affairs, and Co-Partner for Equality, Diversity and Inclusion at the Football Association This event was chaired by Dr Gemma Tetlow, Chief Economist at the Institute for Government. Kindly supported by the Health Foundation.

Departmental boards were introduced to bring private sector oversight into central government departments. But how are people appointed as departmental non-executive directors? What experience do they bring? And what advice do they give to ministers? A recent Institute for Government report exposed how the system lacks transparency and is inconsistently applied. Ministers can appoint non-executive directors without due process, and the influence of a department’s board depends on whether a minister chooses to engage with it or not. So what can be done to make more use of board members’ expertise? What changes could help boards to improve departmental performance? What can be done to improve the transparency of board appointments? To discuss these questions, the Institute for Government is delighted to bring together an expert panel: Sue Langley, lead non-executive director for the Home Office and former interim government lead non-executive Sir David Lidington, former Secretary of State for Justice, Leader of the House of Commons and Minister for the Cabinet Office Dame Una O’Brien, former Permanent Secretary at the Department of Health Miranda Curtis, Director at Liberty Global and former lead non-executive director for the Foreign and Commonwealth Office The event will be chaired by Dr Matthew Gill, Senior Fellow at the Institute for Government.

Growing waiting lists, staff burnout, and a social care system in urgent need of reform. With a spending review imminent, this event discussed spending pressures on health and care, how to pay for them, and whether the government will be able to meet its pledges to build 40 new hospitals and recruit tens of thousands of nurses, doctors, and GPs. This event is part of the IfG's fringe events programme at the 2021 Labour Party Conference in Brighton. Speakers: Justin Madders MP, Shadow Minister for Secondary Care, Workforce and Patient Health Anita Charlesworth, Director of Research and REAL Centre at the Health Foundation Sarah Neville, Global Health Editor at the Financial Times Dr Gemma Tetlow, Chief Economist at the Institute for Government This event was chaired by Graham Atkins, Associate Director at the Institute for Government. Kindly supported by the Health Foundation.

The coronavirus crisis has brought data into government decision making like never before. From the contact tracing app to the A Level algorithm fiasco it has brought the use of personal data to the fore. Central and local government are investing in data platforms and automated decision making and artificial intelligence systems – and increasingly wondering how data from the private and charitable sectors can help. What does all this mean for how government operates? How can the better use of data help with the post-Covid economic recovery and what are the benefits and risks of governments, companies and charities with more data at their fingertips? This event was part of the IfG's fringe events programme at the 2021 Labour Party Conference in Brighton. Speakers: Darren Jones MP, Chair of the Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy Committee Richard Earley, UK Public Policy Manager at Facebook Genevieve Maitland Hudson, Deputy Chief Executive Officer at Social Investment Business Olivier Thereaux, Head of Research and Development at the Open Data Institute This event was chaired by Gavin Freeguard, Associate of the Institute for Government. Kindly supported by Facebook.