§ Mr. Maplesasked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what steps have been taken by his Department since May 1979 to improve its efficiency; what has been the result; what further steps are currently being taken to 390W improve efficiency; what the results are expected to be; and what output criteria have been developed by his Department to help measure its efficiency.
§ Mr. ButlerSince May 1979, Northern Ireland Departments and the Northern Ireland Office have been involved in eight efficiency (Rayner) scrutinies. These have resulted in recommendations for savings in excess of £8 million and over 300 posts. Further scrutinies are planned. In addition there has been a substantial programme of efficiency reviews carried out by the management services and staff inspection units of the Department of Finance and Personnel. A further 130 such reviews are being considered for 1984–85. Scrutinies and reviews taken together with improved standards of financial management have generally increased efficiency and effectiveness and also enabled both the Northern Ireland Departments and the Northern Ireland Office to meet the Government's phased manpower reductions.
The drive towards greater efficiency and effectiveness is a key element of the financial management initiative which was launched in May 1982. Programmes of work in relation to the FMI were set out last September in "Financial Management in Government Departments" (Cmnd. 9058) and in the HMSO publication "Financial Management Initiative within the Northern Ireland Departments".
Progress is being carefully monitored and will be recorded, together with further plans, in the forthcoming White Paper on financial management and in an equivalent publication for Northern Ireland Departments. In addition to the information in relation to the development of performance measures contained in these papers, the Northern Ireland chapter of "The Government's Expenditure Plans 1984–85 to 1986–87" (Cmnd. 9143) sets out a range of output measures currently in use.