HL Deb 04 November 1987 vol 489 c987

3.11 p.m.

Viscount Hanworth

My Lords, I beg leave to ask the Question standing in my name on the Order Paper.

The Question was as follows:

To ask Her Majesty's Government whether letters for typing in some ministries are sent by second-class mail to typing pools in the country, and if so what justification there is for the delay so caused and whether this places an extra workload on civil servants in producing drafts suitable for a distant pool typist.

Lord Young of Graffham

My Lords, the provision of typing services in the Civil Service is a matter for individual departments to organise to meet their operational needs. Most typing facilities are located close to users. Where less costly distant pools exist, the usual methods of sending non-urgent work to them are by direct van service or by electronic means. The geographical location of typing services does not affect the workload for authors of drafts.

Viscount Hanworth

My Lords, I thank the noble Lord for that reply, but does he not agree that there is considerable delay in government departments in producing any paper and that if it is possible to cut that down it should be done?

Lord Young of Graffham

My Lords, our first objective should be to produce less paper. The systems which are now introduced within the Civil Service and which provide for outstations for typing pools—which are not to be confused with wine lakes!—are to ensure that the cost is some 40 per cent. lower than the cost of letters produced in central London locations. Often it is done by transferring the information by electronic means or by overnight van service. Delays are kept to the minimum and we shall ensure that they continue to be kept down.