§ Mr. SproatTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what progress he has made in achieving the target of a reduction of 1.5 per cent. in his Department's running costs for the present financial year, in the first half of this financial year; and what specifically has been saved, by what means and in what areas of his responsibility.
§ Mr. HowardThe Department's annual report for 1993, which is currently being prepared, will show that between 1986–87 and 1991–92 the Department increased it's efficiency by about 4 per cent. a year. These figures reflect a measurement of administrative output throughout the Department and not merely of running costs. The savings have been achieved primarily by the increased use of information technology and the implementation of more efficient and effective management controls. As a consequence, the Department has been largely able to absorb the cost of additional policy initiatives. Equivalent figures for the current financial year are not yet available, but will be published in the departmental report in early 1994.