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DUCHY OF LANCASTER
Next Steps Agencies
Mr. Flynn: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he will list the Next Steps Agencies currently in operation, indicating the number of civil servants employed in each. [3736]
Dr. David Clark: The Next Steps Agencies currently in operation and the number of civil servants employed in each is set out in the table.
(1) April 1997 figures for civil servants including Northern Ireland and Forest Enterprise on the basis of full-time equivalents. Casuals are excluded. Figures are founded to the nearest five.
(2) Departments operating fully on Next Steps lines. Staffing figure for Inland Revenue excludes the Valuation Office.
18 Jun 1997 : Column: 160
Mr. Flynn:
To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster how many and what percentage of civil servants have been employed by Next Steps Agencies in each of the years since their establishment; and if he will make a statement. [3734]
18 Jun 1997 : Column: 161
Dr. Clark:
The figures show the number and the percentage of Home Civil Servants working in Next Steps Agencies and on Next Steps lines as at 1 April of each year from 1 April 1988 to 1 April 1997.
| Year | Number of home civil servants working in Agencies and on Next Steps lines as at 1 April | Proportion of home civil servants working in Agencies and on Next Steps lines as at 1 April (per cent.) |
|---|---|---|
| 1988 | 0 | 0 |
| 1989 | 5,844 | 1 |
| 1990 | 155,660 | 27 |
| 1991 | 206,870 | 37 |
| 1992 | 291,969 | 51 |
| 1993 | 240,036 | 61 |
| 1994 | 339,621 | 63 |
| 1995 | 345,342 | 67 |
| 1996 | 350,408 | 71 |
| 1997 | 364,563 | 77 |
Mr. Flynn: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster how many Next Steps Agencies have been in operation in each of the years since their establishment; and if he will make a statement. [3735]
Dr. Clark: The first Next Steps agency was set up in August 1988. The figures listed show the number of Next Steps Agencies which have been in operation since 31 December 1988 and in each year to 31 December 1996.
| Year | Number of Agencies as at 31 December |
|---|---|
| 1988 | 3 |
| 1989 | 10 |
| 1990 | 34 |
| 1991 | (3)57 |
| 1992 | (4)78 |
| 1993 | (4)94 |
| 1994 | (4)104 |
| 1995 | (4)111 |
| 1996 | (4)131 |
(3) Figure includes HM Customs and Excise which is a department operating fully on Next Steps lines.
(4) Figure includes HM Customs and Excise and Inland Revenue which are departments operating fully on Next Steps lines.
Mr. Flynn: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what studies his Department has (a) commissioned and (b) evaluated into the efficiency of the Next Steps Agencies; and if he will make a statement. [3732]
Mr. Clark:
In the first instance, it is for the Minister responsible for each particular agency to ensure that it is operating efficiently and the Government's Comprehensive Spending Review will help this process. In addition, agencies submit their proposals on efficiency as part of the efficiency planning process and in the 1996 Next Steps Review published in March, there is a great deal of comparative data for agencies including an evaluation of their performance against their efficiency targets. We are committed to providing government which costs less and delivers more which includes Next Steps agencies operating efficiently by emphasising the need for training and enhancing the use of benchmarking and target setting.
18 Jun 1997 : Column: 162
Mr. Flynn:
To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what action he proposes to reform the Next Steps Agencies; and if he will make a statement. [3733]
Dr. Clark:
The Government will continue to develop Next Steps Agencies by improving performance and efficiency in order to deliver high quality services.
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