HC Deb 02 May 2000 vol 349 cc84-5W
Mr. Lansley

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what the cost or net revenue of the International Consultancy Group within the Centre for Management and Policy Studies is planned to be in the current financial year. [120023]

Mr. Stringer

In the financial year 2000–01, the International Consultancy Group (ICG) plans to generate a revenue of £2,300,000. The direct cost of the ICG for the same year is planned to be £1,961,000. The contribution to the costs of the Centre for Management and Policy Studies by the ICG will therefore be £339,000.

Mr. Lansley

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office if she will make a statement on the role of the International Consultancy Group within the Centre for Management and Policy Studies. [120022]

Mr. Stringer

The International Consultancy Group (ICG) was established in 1996 to co-ordinate the Civil Service College's developing portfolio of international public service assignments. The current role of ICG, now within the Centre for Management and Policy Studies (CMPS), is to work internationally to help create sustainable capacity for the modernisation of public administration.

ICG' s current priorities include the need to develop the skills and capacities of senior civil services in Accession States as they negotiate with and join the European Union; and technical assistance to emerging democracies and democracies in transition as they seek to strengthen central co-ordination and service delivery in public administration.

Mr. Lansley

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office if she will make a statement on the work of the Centre for Management and Policy Studies. [119935]

Mr. Stringer

The Centre for Management and Policy Studies (CMPS), which was established in June 1999 and incorporates the Civil Service College, is integral to the process of modernising government. The CMPS works to ensure that the Civil Service is cultivating the right skills, culture and approaches to perform its task; to ensure that policy makers across government have access to the best research, evidence and international experience; and to help government to learn better from existing policies.

Examples of recent CMPS activity include programmes of joint seminars for Ministers and officials; developing a Resource Centre to support policy making, through the use of evidence and research; and comprehensive programmes of training reflecting all aspects of the Modernising Government agenda delivered by the Civil Service College.