§ 2. Mr. Eggarasked the Secretary of State for the Environment what have been the advantages to his Department of the introduction of the MINIS system.
§ The Secretary of State for the Environment (Mr. Michael Heseltine)MINIS enables Ministers and senior officials, among other things, to conduct a regular and systematic review of all aspects of departmental policy, to understand what services cost, to monitor closely the manpower implications of policy decisions and to examine the structure of the management of the Department on a regular basis.
§ Mr. EggarWill my right hon. Friend confirm that his is the only Department in Whitehall that has installed such an effective and useful system? It is to his great credit that he has introduced such a system. When does he expect other Departments to learn the lessons that he has taught his Department?
§ Mr. HeseltineI am sure that my hon. Friend will wish to discuss those matters with Ministers responsible for other Departments, not with me. It is true that, coincidental with the introduction of the MINIS system, the Department is now saving the equivalent of £70 million a year on wages that it no longer has to pay.
§ Mr. MarksDoes that explain why the new chief executive of the Property Services Agency gets 50 per cent. more than his predecessor when the department concerned is being reduced in size?
§ Mr. HeseltineI think it will rapidly be found that he earns the extra money that he receives.