HC Deb 02 July 1997 vol 297 cc286-7
12. Mr. Evans

To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what recent representations he has received concerning the future of the citizens charter. [4938]

Mr. Kilfoyle

Two weeks ago, we met representatives from the National Consumer Council to talk about the new Government agenda, of which the charter is one part. We are also in discussion with a number of other interested organisations on the future of the charter programme. We also have the helpful report on the charter published in March by the Public Service Committee, on which the hon. Gentleman served.

Mr. Evans

As the Minister will know, the citizens charter was introduced by the Conservative Government to ensure that the level of public services was increased and that the taxpayer received a high level of public service. I know that he will not be able to assure the House that the Chancellor of the Exchequer will not introduce new taxes this afternoon—we shall not have to wait long to discover that—but can he assure us that the Labour Government will break the habit of a lifetime and that the British taxpayer will not end up paying more and receiving less?

Mr. Kilfoyle

One can take the boy out of shopkeeping, but one cannot take shopkeeping out of the boy. That may explain the hon. Gentleman's Poujadist view of what government ought to be about. As he knows, there are 41 national charters, 10,000 local charters and 645 recipients of the chartermark. We want to ensure that the whole movement is reinforced. That takes not money but will—a will that the Labour party has and the Conservative party before 1 May lacked.

13. Mr. Connarty

To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he will make a statement on the effectiveness of the citizens charter. [4939]

Mr. Kilfoyle

We believe that there is room for improvement, but that there is real potential in the programme, and we intend to release it by involving ordinary people throughout the country in genuine consultation about how we can improve public services.

Mr. Connarty

I thank my hon. Friend for that answer. Does he accept that there is a real need to replace the previous Government's top-down approach to the citizens charter programme? What plans does my hon. Friend have to involve ordinary members of the public, who are the recipients of the services on a daily basis, in deciding what is an acceptable level of public service?

Mr. Kilfoyle

One of the ways in which we intend to involve ordinary people is demonstrated by the fact that we are considering setting up a people's panel, to involve many people throughout the country and find out what they expect of services both local and national. We have already mentioned that in the near future we shall be addressing forums of ordinary citizens from all over the country. In addition, we shall undertake trips to meet people in the provinces at various organisations.

Mr. Rowe

Given that virtually the only citizens in this country who are forced by law to attend a particular place are the children who have to go to school, will the hon. Gentleman consider extending the citizens charter to make it clear that schools are expected to deliver children's ability to read, write and figure?

Mr. Kilfoyle

The hon. Gentleman will be pleased to know that one of the forums that I shall soon be meeting will consist of young children, the future citizens of this country. Moreover, we have worked in partnership with the Citizenship Foundation to ensure that more than 4,000 schools that wished to do so received a pack relating directly to their interests.