HC Deb 02 April 1990 vol 170 cc478-9W
Mr. Carrington

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will publish the efficiency scrutiny of the control of administrative costs of sponsored bodies; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Chris Patten

I am today publishing the report of this efficiency scrutiny into administrative costs of non-departmental public bodies (NDPBs) and my Department's response to it. Copies of both documents have been placed in the Library of the House and are being sent to the NDPBs concerned.

This scrutiny was set up to look into current systems of contol over staffing and administrative costs in NDPBs, and to bring forward proposals which would enable more flexible and efficient use of administrative resources by NDPBs whilst still retaining an appropriate degree of departmental control.

The scrutiny's main finding, which the Department accepts, is that direct controls on manpower and administrative expenditure should be removed in favour of a system of strategic control, provided that the body's internal control mechanisms are sufficient to ensure that such strategic control would be effective. A single cash ceiling on administrative running costs should be introduced and rolled forward each year. This will provide NDPBs with an opportunity for more freedom to manage their own affairs and scope for greater administrative efficiency.

The action plan in the Department's response will be implemented primarily in the current round of financial management and policy reviews of NDPBs over the next three years.

Urban programme schemes where at least 30 per cent. of the benefits of the project will go to ethnic minority groups
Name of group 1986–87 1987–88 1988–89 1989–90
£000s £000s £000s £000s
Ujima Housing Association (3 projects) 100.0 43.4 13.0 35.0
Multi-racial Society for Asian Children 37.0 39.0 39.0 41.0
Factory Community Centre—Education Project 22.0 99.0 n/a 15.0
Multi-ethnic Communication-Befriending project 27.5 n/a n/a n/a
Muslim Welfare Centre 42.0 5.5 6.0 6.0
Bangladesh Womens Association 39.0 30.5 n/a 34.0
Union of Turkish Workers 33.0 2.0 n/a n/a
Unity Association (Arts and Music project) 40.0 n/a 54.0 56.0
West Indians Community Association 40.0 44.5 46.0 n/a
Turkish Education Group 45.0 25.0 25.0 n/a
Project Fullemploy—New Technology 20.0 32.0 n/a n/a
Project Fullemploy—Minority Business Advice 5.8 32.0 n/a n/a
Day Centre for the Greek Cypriot Elderly 67.0 10.0 n/a n/a
Islington People's Rights (Independent Welfare Rights Agency) 1.0 n/a n/a 21.8
Nafsiyat al atma (Inter-cultural therapy centre) 41.5 43.5 n/a n/a
Ghana Union Printing Project 13.0 14.0 42.0 38.5
Community of Refugees from Vietnam Group 26.1 31.0 32.0 n/a
Anglo-Akanthou Community Association n/a 31.5 33.0
(plus building scheme shared with Islington African project) (224.0) (19.0)
Asian Resource Centre n/a 41.0 n/a n/a
Islington Muslim Association 32.0 91.0 5.0 n/a
Iscinin Sesi (Turkish Community) Library 34.0 36.0 38.0 n/a

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