§ Mr. John Pageasked the Minister of Public Building and Works what steps he has taken to improve efficiency and reduce manpower by reorganising his 131W 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. RipponFollowing the acquisition of additional responsibilities for research and development and the merger of its works organisation with those of the Service Departments, the Ministry of Public Building and Works is being completely reorganised in the way described in the White Paper published in December, 1963 (Cmnd. 2233). In the process of reorganisation full use is being made of the Ministry's own Organisation and Methods Branch. This Branch is in close and continuous touch with the Treasury Organisation and Methods Branch who train its staff, provide advice and information and occasionally join in an assignment. The two Branches have collaborated closely in the planning and installation of an automatic data processing system and in planning its extension to cope with the Ministry's increased work.
The Ministry obtains advice from management consultants when it has defined problems in fields where consultants have appropriate experience. Advice was obtained about an incentive scheme for industrial staff in maintenance depots and I am considering proposals for a training course for professional staff to be conducted by a firm of consultants.
§ Mr. John Pageasked the Minister of Public Building and Works 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, etc., for use in the Public Service published by Her Majesty's Stationery Office.
§ Mr. Rippon1,844 for internal and 757 for external use. 166 appear in the List of Standard Books, Forms, etc., for use in the Public Service, published by Her Majesty's Stationery Office.