HC Deb 08 March 1993 vol 220 cc388-9W
31. Mr. William O'Brien

To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what is the current situation with the implementation of the citizens charters; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Waldegrave

We have made good progress in implementing the charter—90 per cent. of the initial policy commitments set out in the original citizens charter White Paper have been met or are in hand.

Our principal task now is to ensure delivery of the standards and their regular improvement.

38. Mr. Flynn

To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what new citizens charters he plans to introduce.

Mr. Robert Jackson

New charters in 1993 will cover child support; the environment; further and higher education. Other charters—like the parents charter—will be revised to reflect new, higher standards.

39. Mr. Nigel Evans

To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he will make a statement on the progress made at the meeting on the citizens charter held in Downing street on 17 February.

Mr. Waldegrave

We discussed some key areas of interest to citizens—transport, health and social security. We also discussed some important themes—complaints systems, inspectorates and league table of performance.

New announcements included a new complaints adjudicator for the Inland Revenue, commitment to publishing league tables of performance in the national health service and commitment to including service standards in British Rail franchises.

40. Mr. Austin Mitchell

To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what are the principal sectors of public service which have not yet been covered by the charter programme.

Mr. Robert Jackson

All public services and regulated utilities are covered by the charter programme. They all aim to apply charter principles to the specific needs of their customers.

41. Mr. Raymond S. Robertson

To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster when he next intends to visit Scotland on departmental business to discuss progress there of the citizens charter programme.

Mr. Waldegrave

I am visiting Scotland later this week. I keep in close touch with the citizens charter programme there, and am pleased with the progress being made.

Mr. Harry Greenway

To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what steps he is taking to monitor the proper implementation of the charters introduced so far; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Waldegrave

The citizens charter requires all public service organisations to report regularly and publicly on their performance in meeting published service standards. We monitor overall progress in improving the delivery of public services through ministerial seminars chaired by the Prime Minister, and through formal reports on progress such as the "Citizen's Charter First Report"—Cm 2101 —published in November 1992.