New Cabinet minister David Miliband is to carry out a stock take of the activities of John Prescott’s Office of the Deputy Prime Minister.
Miliband, who was appointed Prescott’s deputy as minister for communities and local government after the election, will lead the review in a bid to ensure the department is on course to deliver its “sustainable communities” mission.
An ODPM spokesman dismissed the review as protocol for incoming ministers, but insiders said it was more important and was intended to explore where the government was failing with its mission statement and to find out where it could improve.
Michael Chambers, head of policy at RICS, said the review was crucial, since Miliband’s role was new. “It’s obviously an opportunity to look again at a range of initiatives.”
