§ Nick HarveyTo ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport (1) what recent assessment she has made of her Department's non-departmental public bodies'(a) outputs, (b) efficiency, (c) access, (d) quality, (e) income generation and (f) private sector funding; and if she will make a statement; [83750]
784W(2) what assessment she has made of the targets for her Department's non-departmental public bodies' funding agreements announced since 1997; and if she will make a statement. [83762]
§ Dr. HowellsDuring the course of the 2002 Spending Review, the Department has looked at the performance of its sponsored bodies and at the effectiveness of funding agreements as a means of performance management. The conclusions from our assessment are positive, but we have plans for further improvements: the introduction of more streamlined funding agreements that will focus on delivery of our four strategic priorities; and the earmarking of resources in the 2003–06 period, specifically to help non-departmental public bodies improve efficiency and effectiveness.