§ 18. Ms MoranTo ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what assessment he has made of the general public's attitude to the delivery of Government services by electronic means. [25375]
§ Dr. David ClarkMy officials in the Central Information Technology Unit are currently conducting extensive national market research to test the public's attitude to using electronic services. A report will be produced in the summer.
§ 23. Dr. StarkeyTo ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what pilot projects are currently under way to develop the technology used for delivering Government services. [25383]
§ Dr. David ClarkI refer my hon. Friend to the reply I gave to a similar question from my hon. Friend for Bradford, North (Mr. Rooney) on 17 December 1997,Official Report, column 317.
§ 22. Mr. MalinsTo ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he will make a statement on progress in improving the effectiveness of central Government services. [25382]
§ Dr. David ClarkIn our first nine months we have made substantial progress in improving the effectiveness of central government services. For example, we have
launched the Better Government initiative, which is leading to a White Paper on taking public services forward into the new millennium;published the well-received "12 Guiding Principles in Market Testing and Contracting Out";launched the Comprehensive Spending Review to ensure that all public spending is effective, as announced to the House by my right hon. Friend the Chief Secretary to the Treasury;708Wpromoted improvement through benchmarking—most Civil Servants are now in organisations that are using the Business Excellence Model;published the "Executive Non-Departmental Public Bodies 1997 Report"—the first performance report on quangos; andpublished the "Freedom of Information" White Paper, which will help the public judge for themselves how effectively services are being delivered.