§ 61. Mr. Thorntonasked the Minister for the Civil Service if he will make a statement on the progress of Sir Derek Rayner in reviewing the work of Departments.
§ Mr. ChannonSir Derek Rayner has already assisted Ministers in the conduct of 29 projects in individual Departments. He is now assisting in 39 further scrutinies, in addition to 22 in the review of statistical services. Recurrent savings firmly decided from the first round total £ 20 million a year and £ 8 to £ 12 million once-for-all. As both Sir Derek Rayner and I have made clear, the scrutinies are, of course, the work of Departments under their Ministers.
§ Mr. ThorntonWhat has Sir Derek Rayner recommended for my right hon. Friend's own Department? Can he give the House an assurance that those recommendations will be followed up?
§ Mr. ChannonI am considering Sir Derek's recommendations in respect of the Civil Service Department, which involves charging for courses at the Civil Service college. However, we must look at all of this in perspective. The scrutinies are merely one part of the Government's continuing activities to make massive savings, and to increase efficiency, in the Civil Service as a whole.
§ Mr. HardyAre not these scrutinies expensive and time-consuming? Can the Minister give some idea of how much the work of Sir Derek Rayner has actually cost, how many people have been employed and, perhaps, how many man-hours have been occupied in each of the Government Departments?
§ Mr. ChannonSir Derek Rayner and his staff represent a small number of people. He has people in each Department carrying out the actual scrutinies They are people in the Departments who are anxious and enthusiastic to increase the efficiency of their own Departments. I shall consider what the hon. Gentleman has said and shall write to him.
§ Mr. Philip HollandCan my right hon. Friend say whether Sir Derek Rayner's review covers the work of official bodies that are associated with each Department as well as the work of the Departments themselves?
§ Mr. ChannonSir Derek Rayner's job consists of individual scrutinies of specific things in each Department. He is also assisting the Prime Minister on a number of more wide-ranging matters.
§ Mr. Christopher PriceAs the Minister is in charge of open government, as well as Sir Derek Rayner, will he ensure that these studies are published as soon as they are known, made available to Select Committees of the House and placed in the Library of the House at the same time as they are delivered to Ministers?
§ Mr ChannonI shall consider that point. The studies are not my responsibility but that of individual Ministers. I have given a list of all the scrutinies, and I shall certainly consider what the hon. Gentleman has said.