HM Treasury News Release
183/98 9 November 1998
----------------------------------------------------------
BYERS GIVES FURTHER DETAILS OF PUBLIC SERVICE AGREEMENTS
Further details of the Public Service Agreements being entered into
by each Government Department will be announced by Chief Secretary
Stephen Byers later today.
Mr Byers will explain for the first time that each Agreement, to be
published together in December, will contain an efficiency statement
detailing specific efficiency targets and demonstrating how each
Department will improve its own productivity.
The efficiency statement will include substantive information on
progress and plans in three key areas which will contribute to the
overall effectiveness of the public services:-
dealing with fraud against the taxpayer;
better procurement practice;
reducing sickness absence amongst public employees.
Stephen Byers said:
"Public Service Agreements will be ground breaking documents.
We have already said that they will include clear performance
targets. But we need to go further and ensure that we achieve
value for money for every pound of taxpayers' money spent. High
quality public services and greater efficiency go hand in hand.
"Last Tuesday the Chancellor announced targets to cut down on
public sector absenteeism. Each Government Department is now
carrying out an audit of its own procedures, recognising the
large variation in absence levels.
"Dealing with fraud has to be a key responsibility for each
Department, and I want every Department to have a clear and
effective strategy for tackling fraud. Every pound saved is a
pound more for front-line public services. The Government is
also a major purchaser of goods and services, and we should use
our position to achieve savings for the public purse."
NOTES TO EDITORS
The attached table gives details of absences in major Civil Service
Departments in 1996.
The Comprehensive Spending Review, published in July 1998, announced
that each Government Department would agree a Public Service
Agreement. The Agreement will include each Department's objectives
and measurable efficiency and effectiveness targets. Progress will be
monitored by a continuous process of scrutiny and audit, overseen by
a Cabinet committee chaired by the Chancellor. The Committee will be
advised by a Public Services Productivity Panel, drawn from business
and the public sector, on ways of improving the productivity of
public services and announced by the Chancellor in the Pre-Budget
Report.
The Government has commissioned a review, announced in the Pre-
Budget Report and to be led by Peter Gershon of GEC-Marconi, which
will examine current arrangements for civil procurement and recommend
any changes that would support the Government's efficiency,
modernisation and competitiveness objectives.
AVERAGE WORKING DAYS ABSENCE PER STAFF-YEAR BY CIVIL SERVICE
DEPARTMENT, 1996
Department Working Day's Absence
Department of National Savings 14.3
DSS Group 12.2
Employment Group 11.8
Inland Revenue 10.8
Home Office 10.8
Lord Chancellor's Department 10.7
Crown Prosecution Service 10.2
Land Registry 9.9
Customs & Excise 9.0
Department of Trade & Industry Group 8.8
Scottish Office 8.5
MoD 7.9
MAFF 7.8
Cabinet Office Departments 6.4
Treasury 5.1
Civil Service Average 10.2
Data covers major departments (and their agencies) of 5,000 staff and
over, plus the Cabinet Office and Treasury. These account for 91% of
all non-industrial civil service employees.
Source: Analysis of Sickness Absence in the Civil Service, 1996,
BMI Health Services.
# = pounds sterling