HC Deb 01 August 1980 vol 989 cc852-3W
Mrs. René e Short

asked the Minister for the Civil Service, pursuant to his previous reply to the hon. Member for Wolverhampton. North-East when he listed all the projects that were being carried out by Sir Derek Rayner, and his future programme, if he will list all those projects that have now been completed and all those that are still in hand.

Mr. Channon

[pursuant to his reply. 22 July 1980, c. 189]: Decisions have been taken by Ministers on 24 of the first 29 studies listed in the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Wolverhampton, North-East on 23 January. Consultations and further work are still being undertaken on the following five:

Manpower Services Commission—Review of training allowances;

—Review of skillcentre network.

Northern Ireland Office—Public debt.

Department of Health and Social Security—Arrangements for paying social security benefits.

Department of Energy—Organisation of research and development in new energy technologies.

In the present round of projects, decisions have been taken on the use of accounts registers in tax districts, by the Inland Revenue, and on the requirement for a works transport fleet, by the Property Services Agency.

The following further projects should be added to the list given in my previous reply:

Home Office—The handling of applications for citizenship of the United Kingdom and Colonies.

Lord Chancellor's Department—Administrative arrangements for summoning and service of jurors in the Crown Court.

Her Majesty's Treasury—The procurement and movement functions of United Kingdom Treasury and Supply delegation.—Review of rating of Government property department.

Customs & Excise—Present methods of revenue control of the production and warehousing of spirits.

—(Joint scrutiny with the Inland Revenue) Co-operation between the Inland Revenue and Customs and Excise in their dealings with insolvent traders/tax payers.

Department for National Savings—The conversion to computers of premium savings bond records.

Ministry of Defence—Economy in new building works for the Armed Forces.

Manpower Services Commission—Organisation of the training services division.

Paymaster General's Office—The working relationships between the Paymaster General's Office and the banks.