§ Mr. Hendersonasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he is satisfied tht sufficient expertise is available to the Registry of Friendly Societies to perform its tasks.
§ Mr. Bruce-Gardyne[pursuant to his reply, 8 February 1983, c. 319]: I have reviewed this with the Chief Registrar. Our long-term aim is to have a smaller but technically more proficient registry, concentrating on its primary functions.
Initially the registry requires a modest increase in senior staff so that it has the expertise, particularly in accountancy, necessary to protect the interests of investors in building societies and the other mutual financial institutions for which it is responsible. I have agreed to short-term increases in the registry's manpower ceilings from 121 to 125 at 31 March 1983 and 129 at 31 March 1984.
At the same time there will be management studies of the registry's functions and activities, including its information systems and computer needs. The studies will cover financial management, on the lines of the Government's general initiative for larger departments. They will seek improvements in efficiency and so future savings in staff, which will be reflected in the registry's manpower levels in 1984–85.
The costs associated with the additional manpower and the management studies will be reflected in the registry's estimate for 1983–84. Recruitment of some of the additional staff will begin immediately. Furthermore some of the management studies are particularly urgent because of the registry's enforced move of building at the end of 1983.
Subject therefore to Parliamentary approval of the necessary supplementary estimate, the 1982–83 cash limit for Class IV Vote 11 will be increased by £39,000 from £983,000 to £1,022,000. The increase will be charged to the Contingency Reserve and will not therefore add to the planning total of public expenditure. The supplementary estimate sought for Class IV, Vote 11 will be for £35,000; this takes account of the cash limit reduction, announced on 21 December, following the change in the national insurance surcharge.