HC Deb 27 April 1998 vol 311 cc34-5W
Sir Alastair Goodlad

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what operational and management improvements her Department will implement during the current financial year. [39749]

Mr. Foulkes

On the operational and aid management side, improvements will include: refocusing bilateral and multilateral strategies on White Paper objectives; further promotion of consistency of policies affecting development; improved aid management arrangements for Asia, Pacific and Caribbean programmes; enhancement of our systems for performance assessments; development of closer partnerships with the private sector and not for profit organisations; improvement of procedures and systems for aid delivery.

On the personnel management side a range of initiatives will be carried forward, many of which are linked to my Department's commitment to achieve Investor in People accreditation. These will include: action to ensure that the Department is properly staffed and trained, at home and overseas, to meet the objectives set out in the White Paper; the introduction of management development programmes for all senior civil service members and other staff groups; comprehensive induction training; improvements to promotion systems; initiatives to enhance communication within the Department; ongoing action to underline and ensure fair and equal opportunities within the Department; the transfer of certain posts to the Department's office in East Kilbride to improve staff opportunities there; action to improve the development of DFID's locally engaged staff overseas; an ongoing programme to ensure value for money, proper structures and best management practice within the Department through management and efficiency reviews.

Sir Alastair Goodlad

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development in which departments and development divisions of her Department the Performance Reporting Information Systems for Management will be piloted in 1998–99. [39761]

Mr. Foulkes

The Performance Reporting Information Systems for Management system will be piloted in West and North Africa Department in London and in the Department for International Development overseas offices for Southern and Eastern Africa, located in Pretoria and Nairobi respectively.