§ 38. Mr. RoweTo ask the Minister for the Civil Service, if he will make a statement on the progress so far achieved by "Next Steps" agencies.
§ Mr. Renton[pursuant to his reply, 15 April, 1991, c. 37–39]: Good progress is being made in setting up "Next Steps" agencies. This month the number of agencies reached 50 and there are now over 200,000 staff working on "Next Steps" lines. Announced candidates for agency status total 23 covering over 20,000 further staff. On top of this, the Inland Revenue will establish by April 1992 33 executive offices with nearly 60,000 staff working along "Next Steps" lines. By then I expect half the civil service to be working fully on "Next Steps" lines. The tables attached set out the existing agencies and announced candidates.
"Next Steps" places great importance on improving the delivery of Government services for all customers. The benefits of the programme can be seen from the numbers of improvements and initiatives which agencies are introducing to enable them to provide their customers with a better, more flexible, service. Agencies are increasingly consulting customers about their needs and where possible tailoring services to meet those needs. Each agency publishes its own annual report describing targets set, providing financial information and setting out what has been achieved. Last October the first annual review of "Next Steps" was published (Cm 1261) giving details of the achievements and improved performance of the agencies then established. I will ensure that this year a further review will be published to bring together for the benefit of the House information from these reports on all the agencies and what they are doing to meet the alms of "Next Steps".
112WDemanding financial and quality of service targets are being set and delivered for each agency. They demonstrate very clearly that the initiative is succeeding.
"Next Steps"— Executive agencies established as of April 1991 Number Building Research Establishment 69 Cadw (Welsh Historic Monuments) 22 Central Office of Information1 73 Central Veterinary Laboratory 58 Chemical and Biological Defence Establishment2 58 Civil Service College 21 Companies House 1,15 Defence Research Agency 11,70 Directorate General of Defence Accounts2 2,10 Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency 5,45 Driving Standards Agency 2,05 Employment Service 35,60 Forensic Science Service 58 Historic Royal Palaces 30 Historic Scotland 58 Her Majesty's Stationery Office1 3,30 Hydrographic Office2 88 Information Technology Services Agency 3,35 Insolvency Service 1,45 Intervention Board 91 Laboratory of the Government Chemist 32 Land Registry 10,40 Meteorological Office 2,25 Military Survey2 85 National Engineering Laboratory 43 National Physical Laboratory 82 National Weights and Measures Laboratory 5 Natural Resources Institute 39 NHS Estates 12 Occupational Health Service 10 Ordnance Survey 2,50 Patent Office 1,15 Queen Elizabeth II Conference Centre 7 Radiocommunications Agency 50 RAF Maintenance2 5,70 Rate Collection Agency (Northern Ireland) 28 Recruitment and Assessment Services Agency 32 Registers of Scotland 1,10 Resettlement Agency 51 Royal Mint1 1,05 Scottish Fisheries Protection Agency 23 Service Children's Schools (North West Europe)2 2,30 Social Security Benefits Agency 68,00 Social Security Contributions Agency 6,60 Training and Employment Agency (Northern Ireland) 1,70 United Kingdom Passport Agency 1,20 Vehicle Certification Agency 7 Vehicle Inspectorate1 1,65 Veterinary Medicines Directorate 7 Warren Spring Laboratory 32 50 in number 183,46 Customs and Excise3 (30 executive units) 26,80 210,260 1 Trading funds. 2 Defence Support Agency. Figure does not include service personnel. 3 Moving towards full operation on "Next Steps" lines publication of framework documents. Staffing figures are based on staff in post on 1 October 1990.
113W
"Next Steps—activities announced by Departments as under consideration as of April 1991 Number ADAS Agency 2,500 Agricultural Scientific Services1 130 Central Science Laboratory 340 Central Statistical Office 1,050
Number Chessington Computer Centre 440 Not yet Child Support Agency2 known Fire Service College1 200 Fuel Suppliers Branch 30 Medicines Safety Division1 350 Pesticide Safety Division1 160 Planning Inspectorate 570 Pollution Inspectorate 230 Property Holdings 1,650 Public Record Office 430 RAF Training3 2,500 Royal Parks 600 Teachers' Pensions Branch 300 The Buying Agency4 120 Transport Road Research Laboratory1 580 Valuation Office 5,250 Youth Treatment Service 210 Ordnance Survey (Northern Ireland) 200 Social Security Operations (Northern Ireland) 5,000 23 in number 22,840 Inland Revenue5 (excluding Valuation Office) 59,800 82,640 1 Current staffing figures. 2 From 1 April 1993 the agency is estimated to require 4,500 staff, 1,500 of which will come from the Social Security Benefits Agency. 3 Defence Support Agency. Figure does not include service personnel. 4 Trading fund. 5 Moving towards full operation on "Next Steps" lines in accordance with the action plan of February 1991: 33 executive offices by April 1992, each with a framework document, sharper accountabilities and wider managerial freedoms. Notes:
Staffing figures are based on staff in post 1 October 1990, except where specified.
Many other areas are under consideration.