Aims, objectives and targets
11. Last year we spent a considerable amount of time
examining MAFF's aims, objectives and targets, and how they relate
to one another.[33]
We had particular concerns about the nature of some of the targets
set where MAFF had no real influence over the factors being measured,
for example reductions in the number of BSE cases. This year,
whilst we were pleased to hear that MAFF "have largely met
the targets of the Public Service Agreements",[34]
we were therefore not surprised that "one or two" targets
had been missed, either for the reason specified or because they
were set at 100% and, as Mr Carden explained, "for practical
reasons you are bound to fall short of 100 percent in reality".[35]
He gave as examples numbers of farmers visited with BSE suspects
or of animal welfare cases inspected, where the requirements are
for visits within one day.[36]
We sympathise and attach no blame to MAFF for missing such absurd
targets. The process of agreeing targets for the period covered
by the 2002-2005 Comprehensive Spending Review has already begun,
giving MAFF an opportunity to put forward constructive proposals
in this regard. Mr Carden told us that discussions were taking
place with the Treasury "with a view to having a set of targets
for the next spending period which ... are more realistic about
what can be achieved within the spending period from the time
the target is set".[37]
Mr Bender agreed that it is important to measure "the right
things in order to achieve the outcome one is seeking to achieve".[38]
We look forward to the publication of the new targets which we
expect to reflect the commitment given in response to our Report
last year that MAFF "will seek to ensure that there is a
range of related targets to enable both annual assessment of progress
and longer term planning".[39]
However, we caution MAFF to remember that not everything that
is desirable is measurable and hope that in setting and working
to achieve targets, senior management within MAFF will take this
into account.
12. Mr Bender told us that he had been struck on
coming to the Department by the thought that MAFF, "perhaps
more than most other departments", cannot deliver its objectives
to ensure the provision of high quality food, to promote modern,
competitive farming and fishing or to protect the environment
"without working in partnership with others".[40]
He added that he "would not be surprised if, at the end of
the Spending Review, we emerged with a joint Public Service Agreement
between MAFF and DETR on rural economies".[41]
The outcome of the cross-departmental review of rural and countryside
programmes, to which Mr Bender's forecast was linked, is detailed
in the Comprehensive Spending Review document published on 18
July 2000.[42]
It is a welcome step forward towards integrated policies and programmes
and we look forward to receiving details of this development.
If these partnerships are to work, the need for openness in planning
and communication will be paramount.
Staff and Modernising Government
13. MAFF's Agencies and Information Technology Directorate
have obtained Investors in People (IiP) status. The rest of the
Department, accounting for 60% of MAFF's staff, "did not
meet the standard when assessed in November 1999".[43]
Mr Carden admitted that this "is a serious concern for us"
and went on to say that "The assessment gave us a very clear
indication of changes that needed to be made".[44]
The first reassessment took place after our evidence session and
MAFF will not know if it has achieved IiP status for the rest
of the Department until later this year.[45]
We note that both Mr Carden and Mr Bender "attach importance
to this issue".[46]
We agree that IiP is important, more for what it signifies than
for the award itself, and are concerned at the failure of MAFF
to achieve it. Following the evidence session, MAFF provided an
update of progress on IiP and we expect to receive further reports
of major improvements very shortly.
14. Staff are central to a number of the 60 commitments
MAFF made in response to the Modernising Government White Paper.[47]
MAFF's vision and values were set out in draft form in this document.
Their final agreement was "held up pending [Mr Bender's]
arrival" but following further consultation with staff, he
expected them to be published in the autumn.[48]
We welcome the involvement of staff in this process. We believe
that the commitment to extend 360 degree feedback (a process by
which a leader gets feedback from the staff who work with and
for him[49])
to all MAFF senior civil servants will be valuable to MAFF. Mr
Bender told us that "A good leader is one who is aware of
what his own people think of him and his peers".[50]
We agree and trust that such feedback will be acted upon appropriately
by MAFF's leadership team. Finally, we note the importance Mr
Bender attached to the Modernising Government programme, and we
shall doubtless find a future opportunity to examine progress
made.[51]
2 Cm 4612. The report also contains the Government's
Expenditure Plans for 2000-01 to 2001-2 for the Forestry Commission.
The work of the Forestry Commission did not form part of this
inquiry. Back
3 Ninth
Report from the Agriculture Committee, Session 1998-99, MAFF/Intervention
Board Departmental Report 1999, HC852. Back
4 MAFF
News Release 327/99, 22 September 1999. Back
5 HC
Debates, Cols 701 - 711, 7 December 1999. Back
6 HC
Debates, Col 1029, 11 May 2000. Back
7 First
Report from the Agriculture Committee, Session 1999-2000, The
Current Crisis in the Livestock Industry, HC94 and HC 931-i,
Session 1998-99; HC 292-i, Session 1999-2000; HC 525-i, Session
1999-2000. Back
8 HC
94, Session 1999-2000, para 17. Back
9 Financial
Times, 4 July 2000. Back
10 Food
Safety, Food Hygiene, Radiological Protection and Food Contamination
Incidents, Food Quality and Nutrition, and Feedingstuffs and Fertiliser
Standards. Back
11 Cm
4612, Annex 1, Annex 8. Back
12 Cm
4612, p. 2. Back
13 Spending
Review 2000, Cm 4807, p.
83. Back
14 Ibid,
p. 81. Back
15 Q
9. Back
16 HC
Deb, 17 July 2000, col 4W. Back
17 Q
13. Back
18 Ibid. Back
19 Q
12. Back
20 Q
21. Back
21 MAFF
Business Plan 2000-01, Foreword, p. 1. Back
22 Q
21. Back
23 MAFF
Business Plan 1999-2000, paras 3.2 - 3.23. Back
24 Q
25. Back
25 Q
23. Back
26 Q
27. Back
27 Q
22. Back
28 Ibid. Back
29 Q
26. Back
30 Q
29. Back
31 Ibid. Back
32 Q
137. Back
33 HC
852, Session 1998-99, paras 9-14. Back
34 Q
18. Back
35 Ibid. Back
36 Q
18; MAFF Business Plan 1999-2000, p. 54. Back
37 Q
18. Back
38 Q
20. Back
39 First
Special Report from the Agriculture Committee, Session 1999-2000,
Reply by the Government to the Ninth Report from the Agriculture
Committee, Session 1998-99, "MAFF/Intervention Board Departmental
Report 1999" (HC852), HC148. Back
40 Q
3. Back
41 Q
4. Back
42 Spending
Review 2000, p. 131. Back
43 Cm
4612, para 2.14. Back
44 Q
130. Back
45 Ibid. Back
46 Ibid. Back
47 MAFF's
Part in Modernising Government,
Annex C. Back
48 Q
132. Back
49 Q
134. Back
50 Ibid. Back
51 Qq
145-146. Back