Efficiency (Hansard, 13 July 1982)

§ Mr. Hayhoe

From 1979 to 1981 there have been 108 departmental scrutinies and three large Service-wide reviews. Last year the Government published a White Paper on "Efficiency in the Civil Service" in which we set out our policies for improving management and efficiency. We have since pressed ahead with new and substantial work, including our programmes of lasting reforms, of action to improve financial management, and of scrutinies and other reviews.

Potential savings of around £300 million a year and £37 million once-and-for-all have been identified. Savings from decisions taken so far are around £150 million a year; as much again is still for decision.

The list of scrutinies and Service-wide reviews being conducted in Departments as part of the central efficiency strategy for 1982 is as follows:

1982 Scrutiny Programme and Service Wide Reviews
Scrutiny	Review
Home Office
Administration of the Criminal Injuries Compensation Scheme^*	Resource control review of the prison service^*
	Review of personnel work^*
Lord Chancellor's Department
Administrative procedures for means assessment of those applying for civil legal aid (jointly with the Department of Health and Social Security)	Review of personnel work^*

348W

Scrutiny	Review
Foreign and Commonwealth Office (including Overseas Development Administration)
Use made of Diplomatic Service personnel overseas (postponed from 1981)^*	Running Costs Review^*
Review of the Passport Office^*
The work of the ODA's professional advisers (other than economists)^*
HM Treasury
Civil Service Catering Organisation^*	Resource Control review of Royal Mint^*
Inland Revenue
PAYE End of Year Procedures^*	Review of personnel work^*
Visits made to the public by Inland Revenue staff
District Memoranda and Instructions to tax and collection offices
Customs and Excise
Processing of Customs Import Entries	Review of personnel work^*
Department for National Savings
Improving the quality of the Post Office service paid for by the Department^*
Department of Industry
Method used to assess the cost-effectiveness of Selective Financial Assistance
Department of the Environment
The Cartographic service
Property Services Agency
	Resource control review of District Works Offices^*
	Review of personnel work
Department of Education and Science
	Running Costs Review^*
Department of Health and Social Security
Payments of social security benefits to people in hospital	Review of personnel work^*
Management and Personnel Office
	Running Costs Review—Departmental review and Central team^*
	Resource control review—Central team^*
	Review of personnel work—Central team^*
Government Actuary's Department
Actuarial services needed by Ministers^*
Paymaster General's Office
Declarations of Entitlement for public sector pensions (postponed from 1981)^*
Department of Energy
Energy conservation effort^*	Running Costs Review^*
Department of Employment
	Running Costs Review^*
	Review of personnel work

349W

Scrutiny	Review
Northern Ireland Departments
Acquisition, management and disposal of land by the Northern Ireland Departments
MAFF
Generation and use of written documents^*	Review of personnel work^*
Ministry of Defence
Service and civilian pension administration^*	Resource control reviews of:
	(1) RAF Support^*
	(2) Metrological Office^*
Service pay and records
Scottish Office
	Resource control review of Prisons^*
	Review of personnel work
Welsh Office
Administrative and grant procedures under the Land Drainage Act 1976^*
Department of Trade
Practice relating to the supervision of insurance companies	Resource control review of Coastguard Service^*
	Running Costs Review^*
Department of Transport
Administration and enforcement of the Goods Vehicle Licensing System
Manpower Services Commission
	Review of personnel work
Health and Safety Executive
Arrangements for the supply and use of information on industrial accidents and diseases^*	Review of personnel work
^* Already under way.