HC Deb 13 January 1994 vol 235 cc329-30
18. Mr. Thurnham

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps he is taking to improve the efficiency of his Department.

Mr. Howard

Steps to improve the efficiency of the Home Office and its services include market testing, contracting out, computerisation, better purchasing and greater productivity.

Mr. Thurnham

Does my right hon. and learned Friend agree that the whole way in which his Department is working now demonstrates the effectiveness of what he is doing and that the new measures which he has announced are exactly what people are looking for?

Mr. Howard

I am grateful to my hon. Friend and I am sure that he is right. I am gratified by the widespread support that I have received from the public for the measures that I am putting in place. It is a great shame that the Labour party could not support them on Tuesday.