HC Deb 17 October 1994 vol 248 c44W
Mr. Meacher

To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he will set out the terms of reference and powers of the efficiency unit as a result of proposals in the White Paper, "Continuity and Change", how it will be accountable to Parliament; and how it will interact with the National Audit Office and the Committee of Public Accounts.

Mr. David Hunt

The Efficiency Unit supports the Prime Minister's adviser on efficiency, Sir Peter Levene, who is also my adviser on competition and purchasing. It forms part of the Office of Public Service and Science, for whose activities I am accountable. Its relationship with the National Audit Office and the Committee of Public Accounts is no different from that of other parts of my Departments. Its terms of reference and responsibilities are published in the 1994 report of the Cabinet Office —Chapter 5 of Cm 2518—and its role in relation to efficiency plans is in the White Paper itself — paragraph 3.21 of Cm 2627.

Mr. Meacher

To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what will be the role of the Government accountancy service and Government information service if proposals to delegate below the senior civil service structure contained in the White Paper, "Continuity and Change", are implemented.

Mr. Robert G. Hughes

Under the proposals on delegation set out in the White Paper, "The Civil Service: Continuity and Change", the five centrally managed groups — the Government Accountancy Service, the Government Information Service, the Government Legal Service, the Government Economic Service and the Government Statistical Service — would continue to provide a cental service to the professional specialists in each group. The exact services — and degree of centralisation — will vary from group to group, as they do now, but may include recruitment, training, career development and the organisation of postings.

Mr. Meacher

To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster whether all departmental and agency staff below grade 5 will still be regarded as Crown servants if proposals contained in the White Paper, "Continuity and Change", are implemented.

Mr. Robert G. Hughes

Yes. The White Paper"The Civil Service: Continuity and Change" contains no proposals which will affect the status of departmental staff as Crown servants, whatever their grade.