Cabinet Office Consults Tee over COI Future

In the UK, the government's review of the function and future of the Central Office of Information (COI) is to be conducted by Matt Tee, the Permanent Secretary for Government Communications, who will report back in January.

In August, the government announced it would cut some 287 jobs from the COI as part of its freeze on non-essential advertising and marketing spend, but warned that further cuts were on the agenda.

Commissioned by Cabinet Office Minister Francis Maude and part of a wider assessment of the future of Government marcoms due to conclude next March, the COI review covers the body's 'role, funding, organisational status and governance', as well as its cross-departmental co-ordination and leadership. Tee will work with COI Chief Executive Mark Lund (pictured).

Reports suggest the future of the already slimmed-down COI itself remains in some doubt, although ministers have not openly spoken in terms of closing it, with spokesmen suggesting it would be wrong to pre-judge the outcome of the review. Says Maude: 'This Government has worked hard to cut down on unsustainably high spending on communications. The next step is to ensure that COI is well placed to respond to the needs of the future.'

Tee leaves the Cabinet Office at the end of March. PM David Cameron thanked him for his services and wished him well for the future, commenting: 'Matt Tee is playing an important role in helping to build a new structure for government communications, which will prepare us for the challenges ahead and save the taxpayer money.'