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Matt Tee, the Government’s top communicator, addressed a packed meeting of the Group and gave an interesting talk about his role and that of the Government Communications Network more widely. Matt described his role as Permanent Secretary for Government Communications as being a three-part job – to be the professional head of Government communicators, to play a key part in co-ordination of communications efforts across Government, particularly where Downing Street is involved, and to be an ‘incubator’ of issues where communications is involved – he specifically mentioned digital engagement, customer insight and behaviour change.

Matt set out his three priorities for Government communications – Propriety, Capability and Value for Money. On propriety, he made it clear that there had to be strict controls over what things Government communicators (and communications money) could be used to promote, in particular when it came to party political issues. He was clear, though, that there is a distinction for civil service communicators between promoting Government policy (which is legitimate) and furthering party political aims (which is not).

On capability, he highlighted the ways in which Government communicators have become more professional over the years, thanks in part to high standards of training and an emphasis on career development, though he admitted that in the past this had been a weakness. It was also important to ensure that expertise from outside the civil service was brought in in one form or another, and that opportunities were available for secondments with the private sector, in both directions. Finally, value for money is of key importance across all Government activity, and communications is no exception.

After taking a variety of insightful questions from the floor, Matt then rushed off to get home to perform fatherly duties at his son’s tenth birthday party!