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Joined-up Government
17. Mr. Sheerman:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what initiatives he plans to increase the co-ordination of policy across Government departments. [75374]
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Dr. Jack Cunningham:
The restructured and strengthened Cabinet Office and the establishment of a number of cross-cutting units are helping to tackle policy and service delivery issues which cross conventional departmental boundaries. The White Paper on Modernising Government to be published shortly will set out further initiatives.
18. Mrs. Gilroy:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what measures he is taking to build on those improvements in the performance of Government agencies which are set out in 1998 Next Steps Agencies report. [75376]
Mr. Kilfoyle:
I very much welcome the improvement in performance of executive agencies as highlighted in the 1998 Next Steps Report. It is essential, however, that this improvement is built upon. With the introduction of Public Service Agreements, agencies will have an important role to play in helping Ministers deliver the Government's new priorities and objectives. I have encouraged colleagues to ensure that agencies' targets for the coming year reflect this contribution to broader goals.
19. Mr. Flynn:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office if he will make a statement on progress made in assessing the efficacy of his drugs policy. [75377]
Dr. Jack Cunningham:
The Government's anti-drugs strategy was launched last April. In September, I announced an additional £217 million for anti-drugs work from 1999-2002. There are now local plans to tackle drugs problems through Drug Action Teams across the country. The UK Anti-Drugs Co-ordinator's progress report and a national plan will be available shortly.
20. Dr. Lynne Jones:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what discussions he has had with other Government Ministers about the conduct of public consultation exercises. [75378]
Mr. Kilfoyle:
Last year, the Cabinet Office published a guide on conducting written consultation exercises, setting out best practice for departments and agencies to follow when issuing consultation documents and taking follow-up action. The guide was widely discussed with other Government Departments before issue. We subsequently published a further, more general guide to consulting users of public services. Ministers have also been involved in various discussions on the People's Panel.
21. Kali Mountford:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office if he will make a statement about progress with the development of the Better Government for Older People initiative. [75379]
Mr. Kilfoyle:
The Better Government for Older People initiative, a practical example of our commitment to modernising government, has important lessons to teach about working in partnership, and improving services through listening to the views of users and responding to
17 Mar 1999 : Column: 708
their needs. Yesterday, we launched a Learning Network to cascade experience from the pilots. Many more local authorities, along with older people's organisations, and the academic world, can now be involved in this learning process through access to a database of good practice, and regular bulletins and workshops on developments across the programme.
22. Mr. Dawson:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what role the Duchy has in developing employment opportunities in its rural areas. [75380]
Dr. Jack Cunningham:
The Duchy's role in developing employment opportunities in its rural areas falls under three headings: first, supporting its tenants in country areas who in turn create employment; secondly, by encouraging the re-use (for employment or residential purposes) of out dated agricultural buildings, and thirdly, by employing its own staff of contractors for the maintenance of properties and for the management of its woodlands.
24. Mr. Baker:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what further steps he proposes to take to improve co-ordination across Government of issues relating to genetic modification. [75382]
Dr. Jack Cunningham:
The Ministerial Group on Biotechnology and Genetic Modification is responsible for co-ordination across Government on issues relating to genetic modification.
25. Mr. Jenkins:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office if he will make a statement about the Government's deregulation strategy. [75383]
Mr. Kilfoyle:
This Government are committed to ensuring that regulations are necessary, fair, effective, command public support and balance the benefits and costs.
My officials in the Better Regulation Unit have published new guidance to help departments to apply the Task Force's principles of good regulation and to assess the impact of regulatory proposals. When we consider regulating we will consult widely, and listen to those affected to ensure a balanced approach. No regulatory proposal which has an impact on businesses, charities or voluntary bodies should be considered by the Government without a thorough assessment of the risks, costs and benefits, a clear analysis of who will be affected and an explanation of why non-regulatory action would be insufficient. This guidance has been welcomed by the Prime Minister and commended to all Ministers and officials.
The Better Regulation Task Force supports our efforts to ensure that unnecessary regulatory burdens are identified for removal or reform. We welcome, for example, their work on Liquor Licensing and Long-term Care.
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We are currently consulting on proposals to extend the order-making power in Section 1 of the Deregulation and Contracting Out Act 1994 to remove outdated and unnecessary legislation, without removing any of the safeguards.
26. Mr. Gordon Prentice:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office when he expects his review of the policy areas suitable for discussion using the Joint Cabinet Consultative Committee mechanism to be completed. [75384]
Dr. Jack Cunningham:
I refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave him on 16 February 1999, Official Report, column 686.
Mr. Maclean:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office if (a) he, (b) civil servants in his Department or (c) special advisers in his Department have (i) had sight of drafts of select committee reports, in whole or in part, or (ii) been informed of conclusions of select committee reports prior to their publication by the select committees. [75873]
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Dr. Jack Cunningham
[holding answer 10 March 1999]: I refer the right hon. Member to my answer to the hon. Member for Spelthorne (Mr. Wilshire) on 1 March 1999, Official Report, column 531. There have been no instances of members of select committees giving me drafts of select committee reports, or of parts of reports including their conclusions, before publication. Nor to the best of my knowledge have there been any occasions on which members of Select Committees have given such material to civil servants or special advisers in my Department. This excludes embargoed copies of reports issued under House of Commons Standing Order 116.
Mrs. Ann Winterton:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office if he will list those Government advisory committees of which Dr. George Poste is (a) a member and (b) an adviser. [76245]
Mr. Kilfoyle:
Current information on appointments held by individuals is not held centrally. The Public Appointments Unit maintains an internet directory of public appointments (at http://www.open.gov.uk/pau/ paupoint.htm) which lists members of advisory non- departmental public bodies. This directory is updated twice a year on 1 September and on 1 April.