Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster

HC Deb 13 May 1992 vol 207 cc104-5W

Mr. David Martin

To ask the Prime Minister if he will set out the responsibilities of the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster.

The Prime Minister

In addition to his duties in relation to the Duchy, the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster is responsible to me for the Office of the Minister for the Civil Service (OMCS), and the new Office of Science and Technology (OST).

He will be responsible for development of the citizens charter initiative ensuring sustained improvement in public services; this includes the charterline and the charter mark scheme, the toughening up of inspectorates, and the extension of contracting out and market testing. Above all, the Chancellor is responsible for ensuring that those who provide public services are practising the charter principles.

The Chancellor of the Duchy is also responsible for the "next steps" programme, improving efficiency and effectiveness in the civil service, and the market testing initiative; for advice on duties and standards in the civil service, the recruitment and development of civil servants, senior and public appointments, equal opportunities, occupational health and certain other non-financial aspects of personnel management. He will take responsibility for three executive agencies: the Civil Service College, the Recruitment and Assessment Services and the Occupational Health Service.

The Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster will be responsible for policy on open government, with a view to identifying areas of excessive secrecy and carrying forward moves towards greater openness. He will lead a review of specific statutory restrictions on the disclosure of information and the scope for greater access to personal records, while safeguarding personal privacy. The Chancellor of the Duchy will also be responsible for science and technology issues and for the Office of Science and Technology (OST). The OST will be responsible for the Advisory Council on Science and Technology (ACOST) and for the Advisory Board for the Research Councils (ABRC); for the Office of Science and Technology budget which includes the science budget; and also for the five research councils.

The Treasury will remain responsible for financial management, civil service pay, industrial relations, other pay related aspects of personnel management, relocation policies and civil service manpower statistics.

Departmental Ministers remain responsible for the progress of individual charters, management issues within their departments and the operation of their executive agencies.