Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government, with regard to the speech by the Chief Secretary to the Prime Minister on 20 January, whether external recruitment will take place for the new taskforces modelled on the Vaccine Taskforce.

Taskforces focus on Prime Ministerial priorities and will remove obstacles to delivery, drawing on lessons from the Vaccine Taskforce and other relevant examples.

They will have the freedom to hire the best talent from within the civil service at pace and expedited approvals for short-term appointments of external expertise.

Departmental Ministers will be accountable for their policy areas as now and will have a direct line to the top of government in Number 10, the Cabinet Office, and the Treasury to help support delivery.