Select Committee on International Development Minutes of Evidence


Response from Sir John Vereker KCB, Permanent Secretary, Department for International Development, to a letter from the Committee

  Further to your appearance before the International Development Committee on Tuesday 9 May, I would be grateful if the following information, requested during the evidence session, could be provided:

BETTER QUALITY SERVICES REVIEW

1.  Details of the results of the reviews undertaken under the Better Quality Services Initiative outlined in point 7 of Box g on page 25 of the Departmental Report(Q. 105):

  The four completed reviews were:

    —  Overseas Pensions Department Service Level Agreement.

    —  European Union Meetings.

    —  Chatham Lease Arrangements.

    —  Medical and Welfare Arrangements.

  The first three of these reviews confirmed the adequacy of existing arrangements. The last resulted in some organisational changes leading to operational efficiencies but no cost savings.

INDEPENDENT EVALUATION

2.  The percentage of DFID's projects that are independently evaluated and the percentage of DFID's expenditure that is independently evaluated (Qq. 127-129):

  The nature of the independent evaluation studies commissioned through DFID's Evaluation Department is changing. Until three or four years ago, these were mainly project evaluations. Around 20 project evaluations were undertaken each year, mostly (but not always) of larger projects valued at £5 million or more.

  However, in recent years, the focus has shifted to thematic or topical evaluations which are more policy-relevant. Often, these take the form of synthesis studies drawing together findings and lessons from several project evaluations. For example, the recently completed Environment Evaluation Synthesis Study (EV 626), published in two volumes, drew on the results of some 50 independent project evaluation studies. The ongoing evaluation of DFID's Sustainable Agriculture Strategy is focusing on four countries, studying in detail several projects in each country.

  In summary, independent evaluation studies commissioned by Evaluation Department are increasingly addressing broad policy areas rather than specific projects; and within such sectoral or thematic studies, more projects are independently reviewed but in rather less depth than previously.

  As a result, it is difficult to specify the percentage of the bilateral project portfolio which is independently evaluated in terms of numbers or expenditure. Although only a small fraction of the total portfolio is independently evaluated in a given year, Evaluation Department's work programme is constructed so that, in systematic rotation over several years, all key sectors and policy areas are evaluated.

FRAUD WITHIN THE DEPARTMENT

3.  Whether there have been any incidences of fraud within the Department, whether there is a whistleblower arrangement and, if so, on how many occasions it has been used and to what effect (Qq. 135-136):

  All government departments must complete an annual return to the Treasury reporting all cases of fraud. Our most recent return, covering the financial year 1998-99, noted no cases of fraud by DFID staff. This Department's policy on fraud is set out in a Financial Keynote accessible to staff through our Intranet. This Keynote, inter alia, sets out the responsibilities of staff, including the need to alert line managers of any suspected fraudulent activity. We are keeping an open mind as to whether more specific whistleblower arrangements might be introduced.


 
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