HC Deb 29 November 1982 vol 33 cc6-7W
Mr. McKelvey

asked the Secretary of State for Energy when he last discussed the safety of the pressurised water reactor with Sir Walter Marshall; and what the outcome of these discussions was.

Mr. John Moore

My right hon. Friend and I meet Sir Walter Marshall on a regular basis. Our discussions are confidential.

Mr. Eggar

asked the Secretary of State for Energy 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. Mellor

[pursuant to his reply, 22 November 1982, c. 343]: A wide range of efficiency studies have been and are being undertaken in my Department as a result of both internal and central initiatives. These include Rayner scrutinies and other centrally co-ordinated reviews, staff inspection and internal audit work, and management service reviews.

Full details of all these studies and the action consequent upon them could be obtained only at disproportionate cost. However, the following are results of studies initiated in the Department over the past few years:

  1. (i) the number of information returns circulated in the Department has been reduced by nearly 30 per cent.
  2. (ii) procedures for handling parliamentary questions and correspondence from Members of Parliament and members of the public have been simplified.
  3. (iii) messenger services have been reduced, departmental registries have been rationalised, and typing services re-organised.
  4. (iv) a centralised dictation system, advanced transmission services, and significant word processing capability have been introduced.
  5. (v) the number of telephone extensions has been significantly reduced.
  6. (vi) work on royalties has been strengthened by the transfer to the Department of 15 accountants from the Department of Industry.
  7. (vii) a management information system has been introduced this year. This facilitates the assessment of priorities and the most effective allocation of the Department's resources.
  8. (viii) as a result of staff inspections over the last two years, over 30 posts have been saved.
  9. (ix) a long-term audit programme aimed at improving internal control systems will be put into effect next year.

With regard to externally initiated reviews:

  1. (x) My Department has undertaken five Rayner scrutinies covering the organisation of Departmental non-nuclear R & D work; the economic and statistical service in the Department; the international work of the Department; and, this year, reviews of the control of departmental running costs (part of wider Rayner review) and of how the Government handle energy conservation. The first three scrutinies have been or are being implemented, with varying levels of cost and staff saving. The remaining two are currently under consideration.
  2. (xi) My Department is at present preparing its response to the financial management initiative.

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