§ Mr. Eggarasked the Prime Minister if she will list the present members of the Rayner scrutiny team, detail the relevant experience of each member and list the team's programme of work.
§ The Prime MinisterI announced on 18 July the appointment of Sir Robin Ibbs, a director of Imperial Chemical Industries plc and formerly head of the central policy review staff, to be my adviser on efficiency in succession to Lord Rayner. Sir Robin, who will be part-time, will be assisted by an efficiency unit, reporting through him to me.
The members of the efficiency unit, and their relevant experience, are as follows:
Mr. I. B. Beesley (Leader, Under-Secretary), M.A. in politics, philosophy and economics, Fellow of the Royal Statistical Society; Deputy Leader of the Rayner Unit 1981–83, member of Lord Rayner's central team which reviewed government statistical services, 1980, head of the cash limits division in Her Majesty's Treasury.Mr. B. R. Morris (Deputy Leader, Assistant Secretary), M. Sc. in industrial administration; after a first career in industry, worked in a public expenditure control division in Her Majesty's Treasury 1978–81, and in the Management and Personnel Office with special responsibilities for the development of management guidelines and the Financial Management Initiative.Mr. C. J. P. Joubert (Economic Adviser), M.A. in economics on secondment from the Department of Environment since 1982; formerly an economic consultant, conducted management studies in the Department of the Environment, including the scrutiny of the control of running costs, and worked on the Management Information System for Ministers (MINIS).Mr. A. C. Stott (Principal), M.A. in mathematics and law; Management and Efficiency Division MPO since 1981: member of Lord Rayner's Central team which review Research and Development Support Services 1981; previous experience of manpower control (1977–78) and administrative computer policy (1976–77) in the former Civil Service Department.Ms. C. Caplan (Principal), B.A. in chemistry recently seconded from Her Majesty's Custom and Excise; experience of the planning, administration and control of indirect taxation, and of personnel work.Mr. I. F. S. Trumper (supernumerary), Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants, on secondment from Deloitte, Haskins and Sells.Ms. E. Bowman (supernumerary), B.A. in politics and psychology, Diploma in administration; on loan from the Office of the Public Service Board, Australian Government, after several years experience in personnel management.Under Sir Robin's direction the unit will advise on the strategy for improving the efficiency and effectiveness of Government services. It will be responsible for running the programme of efficiency scrutinies, overseeing the 459W conduct of the scrutinies and advising on their implementation; and for contributing to the programme of multi-Department reviews and to the series of lasting reforms initiated in 1979. In all of these matters the unit will continue to work closely with the MPO, which is now part of the Cabinet Office, and with Her Majesty's Treasury.
Initially, the unit will concentrate on the 1983 programme of centrally co-ordinated efficiency excises announced in the answer given to my hon. Friend the Member for Manchester Withington (Mr. Silvester) on 20 December 1982. The programme includes three multi-department reviews—support services for administrative work; procurement and review capabilities — departmental scrutinies and effectiveness reviews of common activities. The departmental scrutinies approved so far are:
Department Topic LCD Investment activity LCD/DHSS (Joint) Administrative arrangements for means assessment for civil legal aid Home Office Examination of staff training HM Treasury Role and operations of the Central Computer and Telecommunications Agency Customs and Excise VAT Central Unit, Southend National Savings Withdrawal arrangements for National Savings Certificates Inland Revenue/ Examination of the Occupational Pensions DHSS (Joint) Board and the Superannuation Fund Office DES Payment of grants to voluntary colleges and direct grant schools Northern Ireland Office Review of stores in the Department of the Environment (NI) Scottish Office Publicity section of the Scottish Information Office Welsh Office Handling of Parliamentary business Environment The communication requirements of Government policies DHSS Policy for recovery of overpayment of social security benefits Employment Efficiency of the field activities of the Inspectorates and Medical Services of the Health and Safety Executive Trade and Industry Provision of accountancy services to the Department Trade and Industry Practice relating to the supervision of insurance companies Trade and Industry National Weights and Measures Laboratory Transport The driving test organisation MAFF Agricultural science and food science central laboratories MPO Central recruitment activities provided by the Civil Service Commission