HC Deb 26 November 2001 vol 375 cc609-10W
Mr. Bercow

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions if he will make a statement on progress towards the public service agreement target for increasing public participation and confidence in the democratic process. [16926]

Dr. Whitehead

The Home Office published the following PSA target in 1998.Modernise the constitution and increase public participation in the democratic process

I understand that this target related to the publication of the Representation of the People Bill and was met by its enactment in March 2000. There have been no subsequent PSA targets in similar terms.

Mr. Bercow

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions if he will make a statement on progress towards the public service agreement target for improving fire service efficiency. [16918]

Dr. Whitehead

Fire authorities in England and Wales, including single purpose authorities, are subject to the duty to secure continuous improvement in efficiency under best value. This is underpinned by a process of target-setting against key national performance indicators, such as the incidence of accidental fire-related death and injury in the home. For certain functions where collaboration is considered to offer the most potential scope for improved efficiency, fire authorities have been required to conduct best value reviews to a common timetable.