§ Mr. BercowTo ask the Solicitor-General what the target is for efficiency savings in 2003–04 expressed(a) in money terms and (b) as a percentage of the Department's expenditure limit. [114104]
§ The Solicitor-GeneralA holding reply was given on 20 May 2003.
Crown Prosecution Service
The Crown Prosecution Service does not have a specific departmental target for efficiency savings in 2003–04. One of the Spending Review 2002 PSA targets is to increase value for money from the criminal justice system by 3 per cent. a year. The Crown Prosecution Service will be contributing towards the target, which covers improvements in efficiency as well as improvements in effectiveness.
377WTreasury Solicitor's Department
The Treasury Solicitor's Department does not have specific target for efficiency savings in 2003–04.
The majority of the Department operates as an Executive Agency recovering the costs of most of its services from Government Departments and publicly funded bodies. As a result of the Quinquenial Review of the Agency in 2001, significant management effort and resources are being focused on improving the business operations including greater efficiency. The changes under way will need to be completed in order that these improvements can be achieved.
In 2003–04, the Department has two cost measures that serve to control expenditure:
1. To recover from clients the full operating costs for chargeable services.2. To maintain corporate staff overhead at no more than 15 per cent. of total staff costs.HM Crown Prosecution Service Inspectorate, Serious Fraud Office and Legal Secretariat to the Law Officers
HM Crown Prosecution Service Inspectorate, the Serious Fraud Office and the Legal Secretariat to the Law Officers do not have targets for efficiency savings in 2003–04 although they expect, and will, continue to seek to maximise the value for money achieved in all of its expenditure.