TREASURY EFFICIENCY DRIVE GETS INTO GEAR
The Treasury plans to reduce annual expenditure across the public services by 8 billion pounds by 2001/02 through improved productivity and efficiency. The spearhead of the drive is the Public Services Productivity Panel, drawn from leading private sector and consultant managers under the chairmanship of the Chief Secretary to the Treasury. 

The Inland Revenue plans to publish more internal guidance manuals so that taxpayers, their advisors and academics can see how staff are directed to go about their job. The Department is responding to the Government’s Code of Practice on Access to Government Information. The first internal manuals were published in 1995. 

Over 200 applications for Beacon Council status in the first round of the Beacon Council Scheme have been received by the Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions. This is almost half of the councils in the UK. The number of applications is seen as an endorsement of the Scheme which has been under criticism from different quarters. Councils selected as Beacons will act as pace setters and centres of excellence. 

Employment Service Direct, the telephone helpline launched in January 1999, has found jobs for 30,000 people. The jobline supplements the work of 1000 Job Centres.
When a jobseeker rings the 0845 6060234 jobline the call is immediately connected to a member of one of over 100 Employment Service Teams that have been set up across the country to operate the service. 

The Better Government for Older People Programme is getting into gear with road shows and the establishment of networks. The Programme, launched in June 1998, seeks to improve public services for older people by better meeting their needs, listening to their views, and encouraging their contribution, so they can fully participate in their communities. 

By John Blundell and Colin Robinson
Much government regulation fails to achieve its objectives because it most often arises from the pressure of interest groups, not from pursuit of the ‘public interest’. Once established, regulatory bodies tend to expand under their own momentum: they are not constrained by costs because most of the costs fall on those who are regulated. 

The police are to be equipped with new technology to combat crime and Home Secretary Jack Straw is seeking views on proposals to introduce supporting legislation. The legal changes are necessary to ensure that the law keeps pace with technology, while preserving individual rights.
Hand held fingerprint scanning technology will allow fingerprints to be taken by police officers on patrol. 

From the autumn, social services departments will have to make public their annual performance records. Publishing this information will help local people know how well, or how badly, their social services are performing and help councils monitor their own performance more effectively. The aim is to drive up standards, and improve services across the board.
There will be fifty indicators in the Performance Assessment Framework. 

Warwick/DETR Best Value Series. Paper Number 3
By Steve Martin and Howard Davis
This report provides details of the methodology by which the Warwick based research team is evaluating the programme of thirty eight English Best Value pilots and the activities of three Welsh Best Value pilots. 

Latest estimates from an NOP poll show that 51% of primary schools are now connected to the Internet. This compares with only 17% in 1997. The survey was commissioned by the British Educational Communications and Technology Agency (BECTa) to investigate information and communications technology (ICT) usage in schools.