HISTORIC PRESS RELEASE : Ministers to network on social exclusion [December 1998]
The press release issued by HM Treasury on 7 December 1998.
An expanded Network of Ministers to tackle social exclusion was welcomed today by the newly appointed Chair, the Chief Secretary to the Treasury, Stephen Byers on the first anniversary of the establishment of the Social Exclusion Unit (SEU).
The Network will be made up of Ministers who work closely with SEU and they will act as champions to help guide and present its work. It will now include Ministers from Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.
Mr Byers said:
“If we are to achieve our aim of creating a modern Britain and a decent society there must be no forgotten people. That is why tackling social exclusion is a priority for the government.
“In it’s first year the Social Exclusion Unit has made good progress and action is now being taken to cut school exclusions and truancy; reduce rough sleeping and tackle the problems faced by poor neighbourhoods.
“We have established a new way of working across Whitehall. By breaking down the traditional departmental barriers we have been able to respond in a more positive and practical way to the needs of individuals and communities.
“The Unit is a vital part of our programme to modernise government. Providing joined up solutions to deep seated problems is a key aspect of democratic renewal”.
NOTES TO EDITORS
1. The membership of the Ministerial Network on Social Exclusion was announced today in a written answer from the Prime Minister to Robin Corbett MP. It is:
Stephen Byers HM Treasury (Chair)
Hilary Armstrong Department of Environment, Transport and the Regions
Paul Boateng Home Office
John Denham Department of Social Security
Lord Falconer Cabinet Office
Peter Hain Welsh Office
Tessa Jowell Department of Health
Geoffrey Robinson HM Treasury
Barbara Roche Department of Trade and Industry
Lord Sewel of Gilcomstoun Scottish Office
John McFall Northern Ireland Office
Andrew Smith Department for Education and Employment
2. The Social Exclusion Unit was set up by the Prime Minister in December 1997, and is staffed by a mixture of outside experts and civil servants. They come from a number of Government departments and from organisations with experience of tackling social exclusion – the probation service, housing, police, local authorities, the voluntary sector and business. The Unit has a remit to produce ‘joined up solutions to joined up problems’. It is tasked with analysing the web of problems that make up social exclusion, and then improving the mechanisms to prevent them happening.
3. The Unit forms part of the Cabinet Office, and reports directly to the Prime Minister. It works closely with the No 10 Policy Unit and policy officials across Whitehall. It does not cover issues which are dealt with by one Government department, or duplicate work being done elsewhere.
