HC Deb 25 March 1964 vol 692 cc105-6W
Mr. John Page

asked the Civil Lord of the Admiralty what steps he has taken to improve efficiency and reduce manpower by reorganising his Department with the help of the Treasury Organisation and Methods Section; what use his Department makes of outside management consultants; and what such action he is proposing in the near future.

Mr. Hay

In recent years there have been extensive reorganisations in the Admiralty service, usually as a result of reviews by high level committees. The Admiralty maintains its own Organisation and Methods Branch, and the services of this branch have been used in the course of these examinations. Treasury Organisation and Methods Branch does not operate directly within the Admiralty service, but close contact is maintained with them. Outside consultants are regularly employed in connection with the dockyard organisation and are consultedad hoc on industrial problems. Further measures within the framework of the overall defence reorganisation are now under consideration.

Mr. John Page

asked the Civil Lord of the Admiralty how many different types of printed forms are used in his Department for internal and external use, respectively; and whether all these forms are included in the List of Standard Books, Forms, &c., for use in the Public Service published by Her Majesty's Stationery Office.

Mr. Hay

The total number of printed forms used by the Admiralty number about 6,800, the majority of which are used internally. About 250 of these forms are included in the List referred to in the Question. I regret that the numbers of forms in use cannot be readily subdivided between those used internally and externally.