§ 71. Mr. Keyasked the Minister for the Civil Service what were the savings to the Civil Service in the last financial year attributable to the Rayner reviews.
§ Mr. LuceIn the 1985–86 financial year, savings of £300 million were attributable to the programme of efficiency scrutinies. Scrutinies have also led to improvements in the effectiveness with which the taxpayer's money is spent.
§ Mr. KeyI congratulate my right hon. Friend on that remarkable achievement. Does he accept that many loyal civil servants, especially in the industrial sector, are worried that efficiency in financial terms is being allowed to override the loyalty that they accord to their jobs? Will my right hon. Friend therefore ensure that it is a matter not just of numbers but of efficiency in the Civil Service?
§ Mr. LuceThe Civil Service can be proud of its achievements in implementing a large number of the efficiency scrutiny reports which have taken place over the past seven years and which have produced accumulative savings of nearly £1 billion, or £300 million a year. It is the Government's objective, in full co-operation with the Civil Service, to ensure that we use our resources most efficiently and get the best value for money. That is what our taxpayers expect and what our Civil Service is achieving.