Corporate report

Met Office: review 2022

Published 11 May 2023

The Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS) completed a review of the Met Office. The review was part of the government’s Public Bodies Review Programme. It was started in August 2022 and concluded in November 2022. The Met Office has moved as part of Machinery of Government changes and is now under the sponsorship of the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT).

1. Background of the Met Office

The Met Office is the national meteorological service for the UK, providing national weather services and forming a key part of the UK’s defence and civil contingencies infrastructure. It also represents national capability in climate research, with a central role in meeting the Government’s requirements for climate evidence and advice.

The Met Office is an Executive Agency and operates as a trading fund. The Met Office is also a Public Sector Research Establishment (PSRE), carrying out research to support a wide range of government objectives.

2. Purpose of the review

The review aimed to ensure that the Met Office is:

• delivering with a clear purpose which remains relevant and is appropriately classified
• on track to be effective, efficient and aligned to the government’s priorities
• well governed and properly accountable for what it does
• assessed against the PSRE Value Framework

3. Recommendations and conclusions

The review team concluded that the Met Office is in good health, remaining a key part of the UK’s defence and civil contingencies infrastructure. Evidence was also consistent that the Met Office is well run across leadership, strategy, processes, and people management.

The review team further concluded that the current classification and trading fund model is the optimal model to deliver the Met Office’s function and objectives.

The Met Office completed an assessment against the PSRE Value Framework, and this was evaluated by the BEIS Chief Scientific Adviser (CSA). The CSA confirmed that the Met Office met the requirements of this assessment.

A total of 7 recommendations were identified, to improve governance and accountability processes. The recommendations aim to ensure that the Met Office and DSIT continue to maintain a strong sponsorship arrangement.

This stage 1 review did not indicate the need for a full-scale review of the Met Office at this time.

3.1 Efficacy

1. The Met Office to engage with the Departmental Central Monitoring and Evaluation Team, to agree further actions needed to adhere to the BEIS Monitoring and Evaluation Framework.

3.2 Governance

2. The Met Office framework document should be updated, including any relevant changes resulting from this review and expedited for publication.

3. Met Office and DSIT policy sponsor team should review any lessons learnt stemming from the most recent spending review financial forecasting and identify any actions to strengthen financial governance within the organisation.

3.3 Accountability

4. The priorities for the Met Office should be set out in an annual chair’s letter issued by the responsible minister (or PAO if delegated), in line with the Arm’s Length Body Sponsorship Code of Good Practice.

5. The DSIT policy sponsor team to consider (working with DSIT policy teams) how to enhance visibility at a senior level within the department, Met Office and wider government of climate science programme delivery. This will ensure a broader range of relevant performance information is available and taken into account when setting organisational objectives.

6. Exploration to take place between DSIT and Met Office on what additional services the Met Office can offer to support DSIT’s needs.

7. The Met Office to improve links with broader climate science organisations who also contribute to climate research by developing the National Climate Science Partnership.