§ 22. Mr. ColmanTo ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department if he will make a statement on progress on reform of the Public Trust Office. [121898]
§ Jane KennedyMy noble and learned Friend the Lord Chancellor made a statement on the reform of the Public Trust Office on 11 April. We are presently consulting all interested parties on the programme of reform set out in the document "Making Changes: The Future of the Public Trust Office".
§ 24. Dr. NaysmithTo ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department if the Public Trust Office executive agency has met its key performance targets for 1999–2000; and if he will make a statement. [121900]
§ Jane KennedyThe Public Trust Office had seven key performance indicators for the 1999–2000 financial year, and it met five of them. These figures are provisional pending National Audit Office audit of the Public Trust Office's accounts.
§ Mr. DarvillTo ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department when he will be able to provide the detailed estimated costs to the Lord Chancellor's Department of implementing the recommendations of the Quinquennial Review of the Public Trust Office. [122805]
§ Jane KennedyMy noble and learned Friend the Lord Chancellor announced his plans for the future of the Public Trust Office on 11 April in a consultative458W document called "Making Changes: The Future of the Public Trust Office". I expect to have detailed estimated costs of implementing the planned changes by the autumn.
§ Mr. DarvillTo ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what is the estimated additional cost to those individuals who have their financial affairs managed by the Receivership Division of the Public Trust Office of having their financial affairs managed by accredited panel solicitors. [122802]
§ Jane KennedyThe provision of Receivership Division services by solicitors is just one of the options we are considering. There are other potential service providers who have the requisite skills to undertake this work. As the work will be put out to tender the estimated cost is, at present, commercially sensitive information. We will, however, be entering into detailed negotiations with potential service providers to ensure that we secure the best value for money for our clients that we possibly can.
§ Mr. DarvillTo ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what is the estimated cost to his Department of implementing the recommendations of the Quinquennial Review in developing supporting information and communications technology for the Public Trust Office, including the additional costs of training and monitoring external providers. [122804]
§ Jane KennedyThis is a very early stage of a complex change programme. My officials are currently assessing the various computer and technology options available to us, prior to developing detailed design and implementation plans. As a result, specific costings are not available for the individual elements of the programme. I would anticipate that these will be available by the autumn.
§ Mr. DarvillTo ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what was the estimated cost to his Department of administering the Public Trust Office for the financial years(a) 1999–2000 and (b) 2000–01. [122803]
§ Jane KennedyThe total, unaudited, cost of running the Public Trust Office in 1999–2000 was £22.2 million. The budgeted cost for 2000–01 is also £22.2 million.