HC Deb 10 May 2004 vol 421 cc31-2W
Miss McIntosh

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what measures she has taken to ensure that officials employed by(a) her Department and (b) executive agencies reporting to her Department who deal with the Vale of York (i) have visited the Vale of York and (ii) have a full working knowledge of the area. [170012]

Alun Michael

The following list shows those Defra organisations who operate 'in the field' in the Vale of York.

Core Defra Departments

  • Rural Development Service
  • State Veterinary Service
  • Plant Health and Seeds Inspectorate
  • Egg Marketing Inspectorate

Defra Executive Agencies

  • Central Science Laboratory
  • Pesticides Safety Directorate
  • Rural Payments Agency
  • Veterinary Laboratories Agency

Non-Departmental Public Bodies

  • Countryside Agency
  • English Nature
  • Environment Agency

Public Corporations Sponsored by Defra

  • British Waterways Board

Defra Funded Organisations

  • Howardian Hills Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty

Related Organisations

  • Government Office for Yorkshire and The Number Rural Team
  • Forestry Commission
  • English Heritage

A minimum of 16 members of Defra and related organisations staff have within their field/operational responsibility the Vale of York area.

Due to time constraints it is not possible to produce an accurate figure for the actual number of staff involved, nor objectively assess individual's levels of experience.

However, in recognition of this complexity, a Defra Implementers Group (DIG) has been formed in York and Number with an agreed vision statement "To achieve improved implementation of schemes and programmes delivered by the Defra family from the perspective of our customers". This activity pre-dated the Haskins review of Rural Service Delivery and was the first of it's kind to look at better co-ordination of frontline service delivery in Defra. Workshops were held between Jan and May 2003 to consider practical ideas to improve 'frontline delivery' of Defra 'family' work, in terms of service to customers, quality and effectiveness. A pilot project is currently looking to develop these ideas under the following headings; awareness Raising across the Defra 'family' using Information Technology to improve service delivery closer Working of Defra staff integrated Rural Development projects demonstrating joined up working

In an attempt to positively engage with constituency issues such as this, Gordon Kingston (GOYH Rural Director) attends the hon. Member's "Yorkshire First" Westminster Round Table quarterly events.

In addition, all Defra staff are encouraged to have an understanding of customer and other stakeholders needs via our competency framework which are used to measure their performance e.g. the 'Building Relationships' competency.

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