§ 13. Mr. Eggarasked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the introduction of the Management Information System for Ministers into his Department.
§ Mr. HeseltineThe Management Information System for Ministers—MINIS—is now firmly established in the 156 Ministry for Defence and is the focus for work aimed at improving the management of resources and increasing efficiency. In the initial MINIS round, some quarter of a million service men and civilians and the resources they manage have been encompassed by the system. The information has provided the basis for Ministers and senior officials to review organisational structures in the Department and the responsibilities and objectives of managers in different areas. MINIS has already led to management improvements, particularly through clarification of responsibilities, and has identified a range of areas for work directed towards improving efficiency and reducing the costs of defence overheads. This will be a continuing process.
§ Mr. EggarCan my right hon. Friend yet say what savings he expects as a direct result of the introduction of MINIS?
§ Mr. HeseltineI am grateful for my hon. Friend's continuing interest in this matter. However, I cannot answer that question because substantial economies have been pursued and achieved in the Ministry of Defence over a number of years and the recent initiatives are a continuation of that process.
§ Mr. SkinnerIf the Secretary of State is so anxious to cut the cost of information services, and is so worried about the public relations image of the Ministry of Defence, why is it that when a young girl in his Department decides to take part in a bit of information servicing and sends some news to the newspapers, at no cost to the Ministry of Defence, he takes her to court?
§ Mr. HeseltineI did not.