§ 38. Mr. RoweTo ask the Minister for the Civil Service if he will make a statement on the progress so far achieved by "next steps" agencies.
§ Mr. RentonThis month the number of "next steps" agencies reaches 50 with over 200,000 staff working on "next steps" lines. The following table sets out the agencies and announced candidates. Demanding financial and quality of service targets are being set and delivered. They show that the initiative is succeeding.
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Next steps—Executive agencies established as of 15 April 1991 Number Building Research Establishment 690 Cadw (Welsh Historic Monuments) 220 Central Office of Information1 730 Central Veterinary Laboratory 580 Chemical Biological Defence Establishment2 580 Civil Service College 210 Companies House 1,150 Defence Research Agency 11,700 Directorate General of Defence Accounts2 2,100 Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency 5,450 Driving Standards Agency 2,050 Employment Service 35,600 Forensic Science Service 580 Historic Royal Palaces 300 Historic Scotland 580 HMSO1 3,300
Number Hydrographic Office2 880 Information Technology Services Agency 3,350 Insolvency Service 1,450 Intervention Board 910 Laboratory of the Government Chemist 320 Land Registry 10,400 Meteorological Office 2,250 Military Survey2 850 National Engineering Laboratory 430 National Physical Laboratory 820 National Weights and Measures Laboratory 50 Natural Resources Institute 390 NHS Estates 120 Occupational Health Service 100 Ordnance Survey 2,500 Patent Office 1,150 Queen Elizabeth II Conference Centre 70 Radiocommunications Agency 500 RAF Maintenance2 5,700 Rate Collection Agency (Northern Ireland) 280 Recruitment and Assessment Services Agency 320 Registers of Scotland 1,100 Resettlement Agency 510 Royal Mint1 1,050 Scottish Fisheries Protection Agency 230 Service Children's Schools (North West Europe)2 2,300 Social Security Benefits Agency 68,000 Social Security Contributions Agency 6,600 Training & Employment Agency (Northern Ireland) 1,700 United Kingdom Passport Agency 1,200 Vehicle Certification Agency 70 Vehicle Inspectorate1 1,650 Veterinary Medicines Directorate 70 Warren Spring Laboratory 320 50 in number 183,460 Customs & Excise3 (30 Executive Units) 26,800 210,260 1 Trading Funds. 2 Defence Support Agency. Figure does not include service personnel. 3 Moving towards full operation on Next Steps lines following publication of Framework Documents. 39W
Next steps—activities announced by Departments as under consideration as of 15 April 1991 Number ADAS Agency 2,500 Central Science Laboratory 340 Central Statistical Office 1,050 Chessington Computer Centre 440 Child Support Agency1 not yet known Fuel Suppliers Branch 30 Planning Inspectorate 570 Pollution Inspectorate 230 Property Holdings 1,650 Public Record Office 430 RAF Training2 2,500 Royal Parks 600 Teachers' Pensions Branch 300 The Buying Agency3 120 Valuation Office 5,250 Youth Treatment Service 210 Ordnance Survey (Northern Ireland) 200 Social Security Operations (Northern Ireland) 5,000 18 in number 21,420 Inland Revenue4 (excluding Valuation Office) 59,800 Total 81,220 1 From April 1993 the Agency is estimated to require 4,500 staff, 1,500 of which will come from the Social Security Benefits Agency. 2 Defence Support Agency. Figure does not include service personnel.
3 Trading Fund.
4 Moving towards full operation on "next steps" lines in accordance with the action plan of February 1991: 33 Executive Offices by April 1992, each with a framework document, sharper accountabilities and wider managerial freedom.
Staffing figures are based on staff in post 1 October 1990. Many other areas are under consideration.
§ Mr. John GarrettTo ask the Minister for the Civil Service if he will list in theOfficial Report, when each of the "next steps" agencies so far established will produce a report showing its results compared with the performance criteria laid down in its framework document.
§ Mr. RentonAgencies will publish their annual reports and accounts as soon as possible after the end of the financial year. Those reports will include information on achievement of key performance targets.