PROCEEDINGS OF THE COMMITTEE RELATING TO THE REPORT
THURSDAY 27 JULY 2000
Members present:
Mr David Curry, in the Chair
Mr David Drew
Mr Alan Hurst
Mr Michael Jack
Mr Austin Mitchell |
Mr Owen Paterson
Mr Mark Todd
Dr George Turner
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The Committee deliberated.
* * *
Draft Report [Regional Service Centres], proposed
by the Chairman, brought up and read.
Ordered, That the draft
Report be read a second time, paragraph by paragraph.
Paragraphs 1 to 3 read and agreed to.
Paragraph 4 read as follows:
However, our observations during our inquiry have
left us with severe doubts as to the ability of MAFF to deliver
this project. In the past, the management of the RSCs' CAP administration
function has been criticised by the Committee of Public Accounts
on the ground of major variations in efficiency, and more recently
the PwC review identified a number of structural and operational
issues, including the use of new technology, which led to inconsistent,
inefficient and inadequate work processes. The failure of management
at MAFF headquarters to address or even be aware of these issues
does not inspire confidence as MAFF takes on the oversight of
a much more ambitious project such as is now in prospect. We recommend
that to address this issue a new, high quality project team be
put in charge of the implementation of the proposals for a new
agency. MAFF must recognise that to define and deliver a project
such as this will require skills and expertise currently not available
in-house. We believe that MAFF should evaluate whether the core
data processing function would be better carried out by a private
sector contractor, while reserving claim authorisation to public
officials.
Amendment proposed, in line 12, to leave out from
the word "in-house" to end of the paragraph —
(Mr Austin Mitchell.)
Question put, That the Amendment be made.
The Committee divided.
Ayes, 3
Mr David Drew
Mr Alan Hurst
Mr Austin Mitchell |
Noes, 3
Mr Michael Jack
Mr Mark Todd
Dr George Turner |
Whereupon the Chairman declared himself with the
Noes.
Paragraph agreed to.
Paragraphs 5 to 10 read and agreed to.
Resolved, That the Report
be the Tenth Report of the Committee to the House.
Ordered, That the Chairman
do make the Report to the House.
Ordered, That the provisions
of Standing Order No. 134 (Select committees (reports)) be applied
to the Report.
Ordered, That the Appendices
to the Minutes of Evidence taken before the Committee be reported
to the House. — (The Chairman.)
* * *
[Adjourned till Monday 2 October 2000 at Twelve o'clock.
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