Next Steps Initiative (Hansard, 26 July 1989)

§ Mr. Luce

The next steps initiative is taking firm root. There are now eight agencies set up and the project manager expects that by this time next year there will be 20 or more established. Over 30 areas of Government activity covering around one third of the Civil Service, have been announced as candidates for agency status. These are all listed. The candidates include the social security operations, which my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Social Security announced in May that he intended to set up as two or three agencies covering virtually the whole of his Department. There is more to come; work is progressing in a number of other important areas of government.

In support of this, a good deal of other work has been completed or is in hand, including work on accountability, appointment of chief executives, pay and personnel and recruitment flexibilities, financial regimes and delegation generally.

The aim of next steps is better value for money and better service to the public. Accordingly agencies set up are being given performance targets and objectives in these areas. The first Agency is not yet a year old, but the signs are that targets will be achieved, and meanwhile that the 700W move to agency status has, as expected, released energies and enthusiasms of staff to tackle their tasks differently and better. I look to this to develop and progress. The success of next steps will be measured not simply by the number of agencies set up, but in the improvements in performance, for the benefit of taxpayers, customers and staff, that are expected to result. Arrangements are being set in hand to evaluate the project.

Next steps has attracted considerable public interest and indeed general support, both at home and abroad. This House too has taken a close interest, and in the last six months both the Public Accounts Committee and the Treasury and Civil Service Committee have carried out their own inquiries. The Government welcome this interest and will be replying to their reports in due course.

Executive Agencies Established at July 1989

Vehicle Inspectorate (DTp)
Companies House (DTI)
Her Majesty's Stationery Office
National Weights and Measures Laboratory (DTI)
Warren Spring Laboratory
Resettlement Units (DSS)
Civil Service College (OMCS)
QEII Conference Centre (PSA)
Eight in number

Executive Agency Candidates Announced at July 1989

These are activities publicly announced by the responsible Ministers as under consideration for Agency status. Their progress towards Agency status varies, with some at a more advanced and certain stage than others.

Building Research Establishment (DOE)
Central Statistical Office
Central Office of Information
Central Veterinary Laboratory (MAFF)
Civil Service Commission Recruitment Service (OMCS)
Civil Service Occupational Health Service (OMCS)
Crown Suppliers Fuel Branch (PSA)
Defence non-Nuclear Research Establishments (MOD)
Department of the Registers of Scotland (SO)
Driver and Vehicle Licensing Directorate (DTp)
Driver Testing and Training (DTp)
Employment Service (DE)
Forensic Science Service (HO)
Historic Buildings and Monuments Directorate (SO)
Historic Royal Palaces (DOE)
Intervention Board for Agricultural Produce
Insolvency Service (DTI)
Laboratory of the Government Chemist (DTI)
Land Registry
Meteorological Office (MOD)
National Engineering Laboratory (DTI)
National Physical Laboratory (DTI)
Passport Department (HO)
Patent Office (DTI)
Planning Inspectorate (DOE)
Radiocommunications Division (DTI)
Royal Parks (DOE)
Social Security IT Services Agency (DSS)
Social Security Benefits Agency (DSS)
Training Agency (DE)
Vehicle Component Approval (DTp)
Veterinary Medicines Directorate (MAFF)
Employment and Training Agency/Northern Ireland Civil Service
Social Security Operations
Rating Division
Thirty-five in number