§ 44. Dr. Michael Clarkasked the Minister for the Civil Service if Her Majesty's Government are still committed to the simplification and review of administrative forms; and if he will make a statement.
§ The Minister of State, Privy Council Office (Mr. Richard Luce)The Government remain fully committed to this initiative. Review procedures are now firmly established in Departments and good progress continues to be made. Between 1982 and 1985 some 15,700 Government forms were scrapped. A further 21,300 have been redesigned. Savings to Departments are estimated at about £9 million per annum. My right hon. Friend the Prime Minister has asked the Management and Personnel Office for a further progress report in 1987.
§ Dr. ClarkWhile congratulating my right hon. Friend on the progress that has been made in the simplification of forms, in particular the use of simpler English, may I ask him whether he will now turn his attention to 444 simplifying reports and letters written by civil servants? Will he please bring to their attention the fact that the height of sophistication is simplicity?
§ Mr. LuceI agree with my hon. Friend. The Plain English Campaign, whose exhibition I recently sponsored in the House, is doing a great deal to encourage the use of plain English. A number of recent examples include Inland Revenue and Department of Health and Social Security forms, which are much simplified and, I hope, of benefit to consumers. I agree with my hon. Friend that we need plainer English.
§ Mr. FavellMay I draw my right hon. Friend's attention to the passport application form, which is a model of simplicity and could be used as an example for many other forms?
§ Mr. LuceI am grateful to my hon. Friend for giving another example, and there are several of them. The Inland Revenue, Customs and Excise and the DHSS have all introduced much simplified forms, which benefits consumers.