§ Mr. Brightasked the Minister for the Civil Service when the comprehensive review of the needs of Government Departments for statistical information being carried out by Sir Derek Rayner will be completed.
§ Mrs. Renée Shortasked the Minister for the Civil Service if he will publish the complete list of the studies and reviews that have been undertaken by Sir Derek Rayner together with details of the reports that have subsequently been made and 192W details of any forthcoming or pending investigations by Sir Derek Rayner.
§ Mr. ChannonAll the projects and scrutinies referred to in the answers I gave to the hon. Member for Wolverhampton, North-East on 23 January and 1 August have now been undertaken and the reports put to Ministers except in the following cases:
Foreign and Commonwealth Office
Review of Directorate of Overseas Surveys.
Department of Employment
The delivery of unemployment and supplementary benefit to unemployed people (Joint Scrutiny with the Department of Health and Social Security).
Manpower Services Commission
Organisation of the training services division.
Department of Health and Social Security
Validation of National Insurance contribution records.
Department of Transport
Procedures for setting and certifying standards for building roads and bridges.
The review of Government statistical services and a study of repayment by Departments for goods and services provided by the Property Services Agency are in progress. A programme of reviews for improving the working of the Civil Service is being carried out. Departments are conducting an annual scrutiny of running costs, in association with Sir Derek Rayner.
All scrutinies are the responsibility of departmental Ministers whom Sir Derek Rayner is assisting. It is for them to take decisions on scrutiny reports and make any announcements.