HC Deb 16 March 1992 vol 205 c807W
Mr. Evennett

To ask the Minister for the Civil Service what effect the next steps initiative has had on the quality of service to the public.

Mr. Dunn

To ask the Minister for the Civil Service what effect the next steps initiative has had on customers.

Mr. Renton

Next steps is improving the quality of service provided to the public. There are many examples of this in the "Next Steps Annual Review"—Cm 1760— published last year. Agencies are set demanding quality of service targets and are increasingly consulting their customers about priorities.

Mr. Harry Greenway

To ask the Minister for the Civil Service how many civil servants are currently serving in civil service agencies; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Renton

There are currently 221,000 civil servants in next steps agencies and other organisations operating on next steps lines. I expect this to increase to half the civil service in the next few weeks.