HC Deb 28 January 1985 vol 72 cc16-8
36. Mr. Eggar

asked the Minister for the Civil Service what representations he has received about the consultancy inspection review services in Government Departments.

Mr. Hayhoe

This efficiency unit report to the Prime Minister has been widely welcomed and more than 7,000 copies of the unit's briefing note on the report, called "Helping Managers Manage" are being distributed by Departments to their managers.

Mr. Eggar

Has my hon. Friend noted press speculation that the Government now attach less priority to improving the efficiency and effectiveness of the Civil Service than they once did? Is that the case? Can my hon. Friend confirm that the recommendations of the report will be implemented?

Mr. Hayhoe

There was a report in the Financial Times on 4 January, the headline of which talked of the efficiency drive in the Civil Service "faltering". However, the headline did not reflect the contents of the article. Those of us who follow the work of sub-editors in putting headlines to stories know that that is not unusual. I can assure my hon. Friend that the efficiency drive is not faltering. The recommendations of the report will be followed through.

Mr. Dalyell

Will the Minister undertake to find out which Government Departments have placed contracts with Zeus Security consultants and other private detective agencies?

Mr. Hayhoe

I shall make inquiries and write to the hon. Gentleman.

Mr. Winnick

Is it intended that the review service will look into the ban on trade unions at GCHQ? Did the hon. Gentleman note, on the first anniversary of the ban, the huge demonstrations and protests? Is it not time that the ban on trade unions at GCHQ was lifted.

Mr. Hayhoe

I admire the ingenuity of the hon. Gentleman in getting in that supplementary question on this question. It has nothing to do with it. As the hon. Gentleman should know by now, matters concerning GCHQ are the responsibility of my right hon. and learned Friend the Foreign and Commonwealth Secretary.

Mr. Soley

Are there not growing complaints from the public about the deteriorating quality of service from the Civil Service? Is not this a cost-cutting exercise designed to reduce staff numbers? Is not that resulting in a lower quality of service generally and, therefore, in false economies?

Mr. Hayhoe

It is apparent from that supplementary question that the hon. Gentleman has not read the report to which the main question refers.

Mr. Skinner

Is the hon. Gentleman aware that the Prime Minister has a bit of a cheek to talk about an efficiency drive in all the other Government Departments, bearing in mind that according to a question answered by her only a few days ago it transpires that the cost of running her office at No. 10 Downing street has gone up by more than 100 per cent. since she became Prime Minister? Is it not a fact that, despite this efficiency drive, she is spending money like water to spy on everyone else?

Mr. Hayhoe

No, it is not a fact. If anyone in the House has cheek, it is the hon. Member for Bolsover (Mr. Skinner).

Dr. McDonald

Is the Minister aware that the financial management initiative has failed in its objective of tightening up Whitehall management and saving money and that the new consultative document "Helping Managers Manage" has merely added to the confusion? Is he aware, further, that no consultancy service can help the Government achieve their objectives so long as the Government sustain their attack on Civil Service numbers, opportunities for promotion and the level of pay and fail to resolve the bitter resentment about the trade union ban at GCHQ?

Mr. Hayhoe

The hon. Lady is wrong on every single premise of that question — absolutely wrong on every count.