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Sir David Varney has been appointed as Gordon Brown's adviser on public service transformation. The wide-ranging role will include implementing recommendations of his 2006 report on improving services. As an unpaid adviser Sir David will work closely with Ed Miliband, secretary for the Cabinet Office, and Alexis Cleveland, new director general of service transformation. He will be based within the Cabinet Office and oversee and advise on aspects of service improvement. Sir David will chair the Whitehall Delivery Council, which co-ordinates cross-government work on developing more business and citizen centred services. The former chief executive of BG – formerly British Gas – will also work with the Treasury on introducing and monitoring any ‘transformational' goals set out in this year's Comprehensive Spending Review. Sir David was the first executive chairman of HM Revenue and Customs, and published his report, Service transformation, in 2006. His recommendations included introducing just one website for providing businesses and consumers with information, and a data-sharing project between HMRC, the Department for Work and Pensions and 12 councils. Steven Jones, director of finance and performance at the Local Government Association, said Sir David's appointment was good news. ‘The temptation in central government is to talk about things rather than do them, and Sir David is very good at getting things done.' Sir David joins Jeremy Heywood, Mr Brown's head of domestic policy and strategy, who is also based in the Cabinet Office. The department has been tasked with ensuring cabinet government works more effectively. The strengthened Cabinet Office will also push departments to get more charities and social enterprises involved in delivering public services

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WHITEHALL

Varney set to advise PM on public services

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