Get something in a minister’s diary Task

Ministers get a large number of invitations for meetings, speaking engagements and other events. Give clear, informed advice on what is and isn’t a priority.

Ask yourself: is it a priority? Will it:

• provide a useful opportunity to advance policy
• offer a valuable opportunity to champion a particular sector
• provide a good media opportunity or a chance to make a particular announcement

Remember:

• include detailed reasoning for your recommendation so that the minister can make a well-informed decision; put this in the ‘Additional Recommendations/Consideration’ section
• consult relevant parties as necessary, eg sector teams, Press Office, special advisers
• if you are recommending a ‘decline’, address all policy issues raised in the invitation
• if the Secretary of State receives an invitation that you don’t consider a priority, think about whether it would be worth a junior minister attending; if so set this out in the template
• don’t worry about whether a Minister has diary space; what Private Office ultimately need to know is whether you think it would be valuable for the minister to attend: if the minister agrees it is a priority, there may be scope to rearrange their diary