HC Deb 21 July 1994 vol 247 cc507-8W
Mr. Brazier

To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what topics have been covered in the Efficiency Unit's central scrutiny programme in the last financial year; and which scrutiny reports can be made available to the general public.

Mr. Robert G. Hughes

Fifteen efficiency scrutinies or similar reviews have been undertaken by Departments in 1993–94 in association with the Prime Minister's adviser on efficiency and the efficiency unit. The programme, including those which are not yet completed, is as follows:

Department/Title of scrutiny Report: publicly available
Completed
Central Statistical Office
Structure and conduct of statistical inquiries to business Yes
Department/Title of scrutiny Report: publicly available
Department of Employment
Management and administration of employment services adjudication No
Foreign and Commonwealth Office
Research and analysis department and library and records department No
Security of information No
Home Office
Inter-agency co-operation on illegal immigration No
Inland revenue
Managing contracts Yes
Department of Naational Savings
Scope for expanding facilities for investments in national savings No
(Executive summary and summary of recommendations available on request)
Northern Ireland Office
Management and disposal of Government-owned land Under consideration
Scottish Office
Management and control of non-departmental public bodies Under consideration
Welsh Office
The sponsorship of non-departmental public bodies (action plan recommendations available on request) No
Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food
Internal charging Yes
Not completed
Department of the Environment
Liason officer functions
Multi-departmental Scrutinies
Management of the Government's civil estate Yes
Public sector research establishments Yes
The Government's use of external consultants To be published shortly

Decisions on the publication of scrutiny reports are taken by the Ministers responsible for the scrutinies concerned. In a number of cases, where a scrutiny has been recently completed or is not yet complete, no decision on publication has been made.