Further to the Written Ministerial Statement of 30 March 2006, (Official Report, col. WS 117), about our intentions for the future status of the National School of Government, I am able to announce today that the national school is now a non-ministerial department.

The change of status is one of the outcomes from the review of the role and functions of the Cabinet Office conducted by Sir Gus O'Donnell, the Cabinet Secretary. Although the national school will be “non-ministerial” in the sense that the Minister will not normally need to become involved in its day-to-day management, the Minister for the Cabinet Office will retain ultimate accountability to Parliament for the new department. Details of the role and function of the national school will be set out in a strategy document to be published early in 2007.