Departmental Costs

HC Deb 22 November 1984 vol 68 cc396-7

11. Mr. Thurnham

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what further action he is taking to control the total running costs of his Department.

Mr. Brittan

Keeping running costs to the minimum needed to carry out its functions is a continuous objective of my Department. Plans for tightening control over Home Office running costs were included in the White Paper on financial management in Government Departments, which was published in July 1984.

Mr. Thurnham

Is my right hon. and learned Friend taking every opportunity to privatise services in his Department?

Mr. Brittan

We are taking every opportunity where the benefits outweigh the disadvantages.

Mr. Ashley

What would be the additional cost of setting up an independent inquiry into the case of Dr. Clift so as to allay the disquiet which has arisen about the judicial and Home Office handling of his case? Is it not disgraceful and deplorable that the Home Office has refused to evaluate the new evidence which has emerged, and failed to set up an independent inquiry?

Mr. Brittan

The objection to such an inquiry is related not to its cost but to the fact that, in all the circumstances, I do not believe it to be justified.

Mr. Ryman

How does the right hon. and learned Gentleman reconcile his answers with the plan to set up an independent prosecution service, which on the Government's estimate will cost more than £5 million, which I suggest is a gross underestimate? It will probably cost three times as much.

Mr. Brittan

Whatever the merits or disadvantages of an independent prosecution service—in my view the merits are considerable—it has nothing to do with the running costs of my Department.

Mr. Dubs

Does the Home Secretary recall his Department's White Paper on immigration from the Indian subcontinent, published in November 1982, which contained a commitment to have enough staff to ensure a continuing reduction in queues and waiting times on the subcontinent? Does he stick to that commitment?

Mr. Brittan

Queues are shorter now than they were under the Labour Government.