1     INTRODUCTION

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1.1       Service Delivery Agreements (SDAs) for 2001-2004 are being published today by every government department.  For the major departments the SDA underpins the Public Service Agreement (PSA) published in July  (Public Service Agreements 2001-2004) and provides the detail on how targets will be delivered, as well as how government will modernise and reform itself to help deliver the targets.  For smaller departments, who do not have a PSA, the SDA sets out the outcomes they will deliver and how they will deliver them.

1.2       SDAs provide a picture of what each department is doing over the next three years to improve their efficiency and their performance through the use of management tools like the European Foundation for Quality Management Excellence Model, benchmarking across different operating units, focusing on consumers of services and improving access to services, ensuring policies and services respond to the needs of all groups in society, putting services on-line and improving policy-making.

1.3       The SDAs incorporate the key elements of the plans which government departments are putting in place to deliver the commitments in the Modernising Government White Paper and plans to engage in Civil Service Reform.

1.4       Cross-departmental reviews were an important feature of the 2000 Spending Review and the SDAs show how their conclusions are being put into action.  One of the cross-departmental reviews, Sure Start, is publishing its own SDA, for other reviews the plans in place are reflected in the SDAs of the departments jointly responsible for their delivery.


Box 1.1          Wiring up government to take action against illegal drugs

To deliver the PSA target: "To reduce the proportion of people under the age of 25 reporting the use of Class A drugs by 25% by 2005 (and by 50% by 2008)” the Home Office and Department of Health will ensure that  all their local Drug Action Team (DAT) Agencies have implemented integrated drugs programmes, agreed through their DAT, and consistent with agreed national best practice guidance. Specific actions underpinning the drugs strategy include:

  • All schools delivering statutory drug education as set out in the National Curriculum; 80% of primary schools and 100% of secondary schools to have drug education policies, in line with DfEE Guidance and consistent with DAT prevention plans, by 2003.  (Department for Education and Employment SDA)

  • the roll out of multi-component prevention programmes covering 50 sites by March 2002. (Home Office SDA)

  • An action plan to reduce drug related deaths will have been implemented by 31 March 2002 and levels of drug related deaths to have fallen by 20% by March 2004.  (Department of Health SDA)



Box 1.2          Working together to build an active community

To deliver the PSA target: "Make substantial progress by 2004 towards one million more people being actively involved in their communities” volunteering strategies will be developed by government departments setting out how each department will promote and facilitate volunteering activity.  In addition a National Experience Corps will be launched by April 2001, to support and mobilize opportunities for people aged over 50 to get involved in their communities.  (Home Office SDA)

1.5       Parliament and the public will be given regular information in departmental reports on progress against plans set out in the SDA.  In addition the Government is preparing to provide more regular progress reports on PSA target delivery on the internet.  The Government will monitor progress and take action where there is a risk that performance is off track.  A Cabinet Committee chaired by the Chancellor of the Exchequer will meet regularly with Ministers accountable for delivery to assess progress and recommend action.

1.6       To enable rigorous monitoring and to further improve transparency, Technical Notes will be available publicly later this year to provide the precise technical specification of each PSA target.

1.7       Across government initiatives are in place to help departments improve their performance.  In particular the Public Services Productivity Panel, a team of top private and public sector change management experts, is helping departments and agencies find fresh, practical ways to improve the performance and delivery of public services.  The Public Sector Benchmarking Service, a new service being developed by the Cabinet Office and Her Majesty’s Customs and Excise, will help to deliver the Government’s commitments by providing departments with access to information on best practice and partners to benchmark their performance against – practical assistance to benefit from the experience of others.