§ Mr. Eggarasked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will list and describe the studies from within or without his Department relating to the effectiveness and efficiency of his Department together with the recommendations and action taken on those recommendations.
§ Mr. TebbitMy Department conducts a very wide range of studies related to the effectiveness and efficiency of its business. They include policy reviews, Rayner scrutinies, and participation in centrally co-ordinated multi-departmental reviews as well as the continuing work of staff inspection, management services and internal audit. Full details about all of these studies and the action resulting from them could be provided only at disproportionate cost. However, the following examples illustrate the scope of some of the exercises undertaken, and the measure of success achieved
The Rayner study of the Payment of Benefits to Unemployed People, a joint report with DHSS published by HMSO in March 1981, recommended among other things a change to voluntary registration which will save around 1,350 posts amounting to about £10 million in a full year.Reports published in 1981 show that a total of 1,054 posts were inspected; the return in terms of savings agreed will amount to nearly £1.5 million in a full year. Improved working practices resulted from many of these inspection exercises.For this year, we are preparing our plans under the financial management initiative announced in Cmnd. 8616—"Efficiency and Effectiveness in the Civil Service"—as well as continuing with a full programme of staff inspection, management services assignments, and related activities.
In addition, my Department is subject to the full range of examinations carried out by the Exchequer and Audit Department, the results of which are reported to the Public Accounts Committee of the House of Commons.