HC Deb 03 April 1984 vol 57 c515W
54. Mr. Thurnham

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what progress is being made in developing the system of annual performance reviews in his Department.

Sir Keith Joseph

Arrangements for annual performance review have been introduced as part of the Department's management review system, TRIDENT. This has three elements. The annual ministerial priorities review together with the annual staffing of functions exercise aim to ensure that the Department correctly interprets Ministers' priorities and policies and that the allocation of the Department's staff is consistent with those priorities. The aim of branch programme meetings, which take place annually for each branch of the Department, is to set agreed objectives consistent with guidance from the ministerial priorities review. Programme meetings in future years will review the degree to which each branch achieved the objectives set the previous year.