HC Deb 02 May 2001 vol 367 cc700-1W
25. Mr. Levitt

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what steps are being taken to reduce the burden of regulation on public sector workers. [159126]

Mr. Stringer

In November 1999 the Minister for the Cabinet Office established a Public Sector Team within the Regulatory Impact Unit with the remit of cutting red tape and burden in the public sector.

The team has focused on reducing the burden on frontline public sector workers and in the last 12 months has produced reports on: the police saving an estimated 166,000 hours annually; headteachers saving an estimated 200 hours per school annually; and most recently GP doctors, launched by the Prime Minister, saving an estimated 7.2 million appointments and 750,000 hours annually.

The reports were widely welcomed among public sector workers and the Public Sector Team is continuing with this work. There are plans for a further three reports during the next 12 months.