§ Mr. RookerTo ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what mechanisms exist in the Treasury for identifying and tracking value-for-money savings in its operations.
§ Mr. Ryder[holding answer 5 June 1990]: The core mechanism is the annual cycle of delegated budgeting and work programming in which progress against objectives is assessed and forward priorities are established. This is supported by information technology and purchasing strategies, by rolling programmes of staff inspection and reviews, internal audit and market testing and by other efficiency studies.
§ Mr. RookerTo ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what were the value-for-money savings in his Department's operations identified by internal audit and internal efficiency arrangements and by external audit and by management consultants retained by his Department between 1983–84 and 1988–89; and what is the amount of those savings fulfilled to date.
§ Mr. Ryder[holding answer 5 June 1990]: Total efficiency savings and gains amounted to some £2.2 millon in 1988–89 and £2.6 million in 1989–90. The principal methods of identification were purchasing savings and staff inspections and reviews. Comparable figures for earlier years are not available because of machinery of Government changes.