HC Deb 10 December 2001 vol 376 cc595-7W
Mr. Bercow

To ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will make a statement on progress with the public service agreement target for openness and diversity in the civil service. [21249]

Mr. Leslie

The latest figures for April 2001 show that the civil service continues to make steady progress towards the targets for openness and diversity, increasing on all indicators from 1998 baselines:

  • 24.2 per cent. of the Senior Civil Service are women, up from 17.8 per cent. in 1998. The target for 2004–05 is 35 per cent.
  • 20.2 per cent. of those in the top 600 posts are women, up from 12.7 per cent. in 1998. The target for 2004–05 is 25 per cent.
  • 2.4 per cent. of staff at Senior Civil Service level are from a minority ethnic background, up from 1.6 per cent. in 1998. The target for 2004–05 is 3.2 per cent.
  • 2.0 per cent. of staff at Senior Civil Service level are disabled, up from 1.5 per cent. in 1998. The target for 2004–05 is 3.0 per cent.

The Cabinet Office has launched 'Pathways', a central development programme targeted at minority ethnic staff with the potential to rise to senior levels.

The number of successful candidates from minority ethnic backgrounds in the Fast Stream Scheme has doubled from 3.4 per cent. in 1998 to 6.8 per cent. in 2000.

Mr. Bercow

To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what opinion research he has undertaken for ascertaining progress in meeting the public service agreement target on responsiveness of public services to the views of users. [21341]

Mr. Leslie

A third wave of research ("Wave 6") monitoring and tracking changes in public satisfaction levels against key public services is currently under way. The results will be published in newsletter format and on the internet. Copies will be placed in the House.

Mr. Bercow

To ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will make a statement on the initial targets to be met by April 2001 in pursuit of the public service agreement target for the delivery of new programmes. [21343]

Mr. Leslie

Progress continues to be made across Government towards achieving targets outlined in departmental public service agreements. Details of public service agreements can be found on both departmental and HM Treasury websites and performance against those targets in departmental reports.

Mr. Bercow

To ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will make a statement on progress with the public service agreement target to introduce new pay systems to improve Departments' performance. [21348]

Mr. Leslie

Departments and agencies are reviewing their pay systems in line with the principles of Civil Service Reform. Good progress is being made and we expect around 80 per cent. to have completed this by April 2002. Departments and agencies will continue to adjust their pay and performance management systems annually against central guidelines, to drive improvements in their performance.

Mr. Bercow

To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what action has followed fulfilment of the public service agreement target to publish a White Paper on modernising Government. [21345]

Mr. Leslie

The Government have moved into a second phase of modernisation, focused firmly on improved service delivery. The reorganisation of the centre of Government, including the creation of the Prime Minister's Delivery Unit and the Office of Public Services Reform, is helping to take this agenda forward.

Mr. Bercow

To ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will make a statement on progress this year with the public service agreement target for the saving on administration revenue. [21248]

Mr. Leslie

The Cabinet Office has a public service agreement (PSA) target toachieve a 2.5 per cent. saving per year on administrative resources".

The Department's spending plans are agreed and monitored by Her Majesty's Treasury and its accounts and performance are audited by the National Audit Office.

The Department's 2000 spending review settlement reflected a reduction in resources available to the Cabinet Office in light of the 2.5 per cent. savings required. The Department has carried out several Better Quality Service Reviews and is continuing to develop and improve its planning, budgeting and procurement systems in order to ensure resources are deployed efficiently and effectively.

Machinery of Government changes have led to an expansion of the Department, which will result in an overall increase in administrative costs. However the Department intends not to exceed its agreed expenditure limit.

Mr. Bercow

To ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will make a statement on the performance of (a) the Cabinet Office and (b) other Departments in meeting the public service agreement for electronic service delivery by Government. [21349]

Mr. Leslie

Delivery is at the heart of our agenda for transforming public services and e-government is one of the most powerful catalysts we have for achieving that transformation. The Office of the e-Envoy produces both an annual report and regular monthly reports giving details of the progress that is being made. The latest annual report was published on 4 December and is available at http://www.e-envoy.gov.uk/ukonline/champions/anrep— menu.htm.

The latest figures on progress towards the target of making Government services available electronically by 2005 show that over 50 per cent. of Government services are e-enabled now. Departments predict that 74 per cent. of services will be e-enabled by the end of 2002. This information is available at http://www.e-envoy.gov.uk/ publications/reports/esd/autumn2001/esdrep— 2001.htm.

Mr. Bercow

To ask the Deputy Prime Minister (1) if he will make a statement on progress in securing departments' compliance with the regulatory impact assessment process as part of the Cabinet Office's public service agreement target on the subject; [21342]

(2) what action has been taken in pursuit of the public service agreement target for improved Government regulation to establish a baseline of compliance with the regulatory impact assessment process. [21344]

Mr. Leslie

In accordance with the published SDA target (reference Command Paper CM5119 July 2000), by the end of the 2001–02 financial year we aim to produce a baseline measure of the extent of departmental compliance with the Regulatory Impact Assessment process. Work on this is under way and we will make an announcement in due course.