§ Mr. SproatTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what progress he has made in achieving the target of a reduction of 1.5 per cent. in his Department's running costs for the present financial year, in the first half of this financial year; and what specifically has been saved, by what means and in what areas of his responsibility.
§ Mr. CurryThe main areas which contribute to the Department's running cost efficiencies are: information technology; staff inspection, to ensure the most efficient organisation of work; and purchasing.
The efficiency gains which these measures provide are monitored and reviewed on a 12-month (financial year) basis, and information is not available on a six-month basis. Information on efficiency gains will be available after April 1993.