HC Deb 27 October 1995 vol 264 cc830-1W
Mr. Elletson

To ask the Attorney-General if he will make a statement on whether the CPS and the SFO should become executive agencies. [40585]

The Attorney-General

I announced on 6 December 1993 that consideration was to be given to whether the CPS and the SFO should become executive agencies under the Government's next steps initiative. Following a prior options study by an interdepartmental group, I announced on 22 September 1995 that I had concluded that it would not be right to restructure either the CPS or the SFO as an executive agency. The special character of the CPS and the SFO as independent prosecuting authorities and their well-established relationship with me as Attorney-General, which is enshrined in the statutory concept of superintendence, are best maintained by retaining their present status.

However, both organisations will be introducing the principles of next steps, such as clarity of objectives, the determining of suitable performance targets, and the delegation of management responsibilities. These principles will provide the basis for further improvement in the management of the work of the CPS and the SFO in line with the approach set out in the recent civil service White Papers. Work to bring this about is under way.