![HISTORIC PRESS RELEASE : Publication of Lord Alexander of Weedon´s Report “Independent Enquiry into a Tonnage Tax” [August 1999]](https://www.ukpol.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/hmtreasury-150x150.png)
The press release issued by HM Treasury on 12 August 1999.
The Treasury today published the Independent Enquiry into a Tonnage Tax, a report by Lord Alexander of Weedon QC. The report’s main recommendations have been accepted by the Chancellor and, subject to the necessary Parliamentary and EC approvals, will be worked up for implementation in the next Finance Bill.
The press release issued by HM Treasury on 8 August 1999.
Colleges, police services, housing departments, and hospitals are all being put under the spotlight by a top team of private sector managers to deliver improved productivity and efficiency in the public sector.
The Public Services Productivity Panel, drawn from leading private sector and consultant managers, has been established under the chairmanship of the Chief Secretary to the Treasury to help the Government hit its target of £8 billion a year of efficiency improvements in the public sector by 2001-02. Every pound of efficiency gains resulting from this work will be reinvested in frontline services.
Announcing for the first time details of the Panel’s work, Chief Secretary to the Treasury Alan Milburn said today:
“Delivering real tangible change for the better in Britain’s key public services is the priority for the remainder of this Parliament.
The Government is committed to delivering modern first class services which make the very best use of the extra cash the Government is providing.
We are determined that £40 billion worth of extra investment in health and education brings £40 billion worth of improvements.
The Panel will help identify the root and branch changes that are needed to ratchet up public service productivity and performance.
This new efficiency drive will free more resources for frontline services.
It will focus on how we can tackle variations in performance in public services.
The Government wants to see excellence for the many not the few. ”
Examples of projects being overseen out by the panel include:
Housing: this Government is investing an extra £3.6 billion to improve the condition of local authority housing and is determined to see this extra cash spent effectively in meeting the needs of local people. But there is currently too much variation in the cost of repairs and the time taken to carry out repairs. This project will seek to find out why these differences exist and will carry out spot-checks on repair work to discover the level of customer satisfaction with repairs.
Staff: in seeking to ensure top quality efficient public services, the Government recognises the importance of well-motivated staff. We are therefore examining what motivates managers and staff in the public and private sectors and looking at ways in which we can provide the right incentives. That includes pay, but also other forms of recognition. This project is looking closely at four Government agencies that deal directly with the public – the Inland Revenue, Customs & Excise, the Benefits Agency, and the Employment Service.
The NHS: there are almost 11 million new NHS outpatient appointments each year, as well as around 27 million follow-up appointments, at a cost of over £4 billion. The performance of outpatient services is therefore vital to the quality and efficiency of the NHS. This project aims to identify ways in which we can improve the delivery of outpatient services across the NHS.
Schools: this project seeks to raise standards and save time in schools by improving communication between central Government and individual schools; enabling comparison in performance between schools more easily; spreading best practice between schools; and making individual schools more accountable for their own performance.
The police: The Government spends some £7.5 billion every year on policing in the UK. Ensuring the quality and efficiency of the police is therefore a priority. The Government has set tough new targets for reducing crime and the fear of crime. It has also set a 2% efficiency target, year on year for the next three years, for the police to focus more resources on the front-line fight against crime. This project will examine ways to measure the efficiency of police forces and how new approaches can ensure the most efficient use of police resources.
Customer service: a key objective of the Government’s modernisation agenda is to deliver public services that meet the needs of citizens. For many critical services, Government agencies are the first point of contact for members of the public. This project will assess the quality of service provided by three such services: the DVLA, the Driving Standards Agency, and the Highways Agency. The quality of customer service will be tested through a ‘mystery shopping’ exercise.
The press release issued by HM Treasury on 5 August 1999.
Annual cost of new medical retirements now estimated at £1 billion
The Chief Secretary to the Treasury, Alan Milburn MP, announced today a wide ranging review into the level of ill health retirement in the public sector.
About 25,000 staff working in the public sector retire on ill health grounds each year with an average extra cost to pension funds in excess of £35,000. It is estimated that the annual cost of each year’s new ill health retirements is now over £1 billion.
Ill health retirements hit a peak in the mid-1990s and are much greater than in previous decade.
For example the rate of ill-health retirements among NHS male administrators in their 30s and 40s rose fourfold between 1969 and 1994, before dropping off in the late 1990s.
Ministers are particularly concerned about the wide variations in the incidence of ill health retirement between different parts of the public sector and between different employers within the public sector:
The Review, among other issues, will look at the causes of ill-health retirements, including stress, and how to manage these better.
Speaking today Alan Milburn said:
“We need to find out why these levels vary so much and ensure ill health retirements are used appropriately.
“The review will look in particular at how better pension scheme and staff management can help avoid the need for ill health retirement in the first place.
“It will help employees by ensuring that employers adopt best practice to maintain their well being and their earning capacity.
“And it will help employers by helping ensure that the services of experienced staff are retained to provide the best standards of service to the public.”
“People working in the public sector have a right to retire on ill health grounds when there are good reasons for it.”
“In those circumstances it is vital that retiring staff get the pension benefits to which they are entitled.
“But the levels of medical retirement numbers and the high costs to the taxpayer mean that a review is now necessary.”
The press release issued by HM Treasury on 2 August 1999.
The Chancellor of the Exchequer, Gordon Brown, has decided the following allocation of Ministerial responsibilities:
The press release issued by HM Treasury on 29 September 1999.
The UK arm of the Worldwide Fund for Nature (WWF-UK) have set out their support for the Government’s proposed climate change levy in a report published today.
Welcoming the report, Financial Secretary Stephen Timms said:
“WWF’s study into the effects of the climate change levy confirms that our proposed levy will be of benefit to the UK economy as well as to the environment.
“It is important to remember, as the WWF report demonstrates, that most firms will be net beneficiaries of the levy. We are aware of the concerns of energy-intensive industries, and intend to set significantly lower rates of the levy for sectors that agree targets for improving energy efficiency. Discussions over these targets are continuing.
“The Government is committed to a full and open consultation on the climate change levy, with business and other interested parties, to ensure the levy is designed in such a way as to maximise environmental effectiveness, whilst safeguarding competitiveness. The WWF report is an important part of that process.”
The press release issued by HM Treasury on 24 September 1999.
Jim Fitzpatrick MP (Poplar and Canning Town) has been appointed as Parliamentary Private Secretary to the Chief Secretary, Alan Milburn.
Educated at Holyrood Senior Secondary, Glasgow, Mr Fitzpatrick was a firefighter in the London Fire Brigade from 1974 – 97. Elected on 1 May 1997, he has been a member of the London Labour Executive since 1988 and Chairman of the Greater London Labour Party since 1991.
A parent Governor at Eastbury Comprehensive School, his special interests include anti-poverty and regeneration issues.
Born in 1952, Mr Fitzpatrick is married with one son and one daughter.
The press release issued by HM Treasury on 24 September 1999.
Commonwealth finance ministers were today invited to the United Kingdom for their annual meeting in 2002 by Economic Secretary to the Treasury Melanie Johnson.
Speaking at the Commonwealth Finance Ministers Meeting (CFMM), Miss Johnson said:
“I am delighted to extend the United Kingdom’s invitation to host the 2002 Commonwealth Finance Ministers’ Meeting. I believe it is very fitting for the UK to host this important meeting in the same year as the celebration of the Queen’s Golden Jubilee and the Commonwealth Games being hosted by the city of Manchester.
“The Commonwealth Finance Ministers’ Meeting has a valuable role to play in the work of the Commonwealth and indeed, in the wider international community.
“It brings together decision makers from over 50 countries, developed and developing, from all regions of the world. And, it provides a unique forum for members large and small to exchange views and learn from each other on a wide range of issues of international importance.”
Commenting on the current meeting of Commonwealth Finance Ministers in the Cayman Islands, Miss Johnson continued:
“I am very pleased with the progress that has been made at this year’s conference, particularly on the issue of heavily indebted poor countries.
“I echo the Chancellor’s belief that this week is the most important week in the campaign for debt relief. Following his meeting with religious leaders on Monday, this meeting of the Commonwealth has taken the debate a step forward on the international stage at a very important time – on the eve of the G7 and World Bank Annual Meetings in Washington.”
The press release issued by HM Treasury on 23 September 1999.
The Government’s commitment to providing a better deal for families with children was championed today by the Chief Secretary Alan Milburn as he met staff and users at a new £2.5m Sure Start project being developed in Howdon, North Tyneside.
He commented:
“When we came into office one in three children were living in low income families with a higher number of children growing up in workless households than any other European country. And in North Tyneside 25% of children are in households dependent on income support.
We are determined to address the causes of poverty and provide help where and when it is most needed to give every child the best start in life. As the Prime Minister has said, we aim to abolish child poverty over the next 20 years.
We have put in place a comprehensive package of measures of which the Sure Start programme is an integral part. Its £540 million over the next three years is aimed at providing a co-ordinated approach to services for families with children aged under four.
I am very pleased to be able to see for myself how the Howdon Centre is providing local parents and children with the high quality services and advice they need.”
Howdon is one of 60 areas that have been invited to put forward proposals under the Sure Start programme, including 4 others in the North East. So far 54 areas have been given the go-ahead. The aim is to build up to 250 by the end of the Parliament. It is expected that the Government will be investing in the region of £12 million over the next three years in the North East Sure Start programmes. Sure Start aims to provide new services and reshape existing ones for children from birth to 4, and their families.
Around 15,000 people live in the area covered by the Howdon Centre, of which 810 are under 4. It is a mixed housing area where 21% of households contain a lone parent. There are high levels of teenage pregnancies, low birth weight babies and juvenile crime rates.
The Howdon Sure Start programme will include enhanced health visiting and midwifery services, a community mothers scheme, a drop in centre, family support sessions, pre-school playgroups, day care for babies and children, speech therapy, special needs project and a sensory room.
Mr Milburn will be looking at new multi-sensory equipment designed to encourage children to interact with their suroundings, visiting the creche and talking to staff, parents, local residents and key service providers.
The press release issued by HM Treasury on 20 September 1999.
A call for the EU to contribute one billion euros to aid debt relief has been issued today by the Chancellor Gordon Brown and International Development Secretary, Clare Short.
The Ministers have written to EC Commissioners Chris Patten and Poul Neilson proposing a contribution of one billion euros from the European Development Fund to aid the costs of debt relief for the most heavily indebted poor countries (HIPCs).
The Chancellor Gordon Brown said:
“Debt relief for the most heavily indebted poor countries is one of the major challenges facing all of us in the run-up to the Millennium.
“This is a major opportunity for Europe to take a strong political lead on one of the great moral issues of our time.
Development Secretary Clare Short said:
“The G7 agreed at Cologne speedier and more generous action to reduce debt relief and ensure the benefits help the poor.
“We have made the biggest pledge of $171 million for the HIPC Trust Fund. It is now time for others to back up their commitments with firm pledges of support.
“But we must also ensure that poor people have a stronger voice in ensuring the benefits of debt relief really benefit the poor.”
The Chancellor also announced that, for the first time, there will be a joint meeting of the Interim and Development Committees in Washington this coming Sunday.
A copy of the letter to the EC Commissioners is attached.
Poul Neilson
Commissioner For Development Cooperation And Humanitarian Aid
Chris Patten
Commissioner For External Relations
European Commission
Rue de Ia Loi 200
B-I 049 Brussels
BELGIUM
Dear Poul and Chris
We would like to pass on our congratulations and warmest wishes to both of you on the confirmation of your appointment as Commissioners. We are sure you are already looking forward to the challenges ahead. As you know debt relief for the most heavily indebted poor countries (HIPCS) is one of the major challenges facing the developing world in the run-up to the Millennium.
You will be aware, we wrote in April to Commissioners Pinheiro and Mann to propose a contribution of some 1 billion euro from the European Development Fund to the costs of HIPC. It is clear that the ambitious and comprehensive solution to debt and poverty proposed since then, and which will be discussed at the forthcoming Annual Meeting of the IMF and World Bank, will require additional funding, particularly for the African Development Bank and some other multilaterals. We welcome the considerable support amongst EU Finance and Development Ministers for the possibility of a contribution from the European Union to the costs of HIPC over and above the EU’s own requirements as creditor.
We understand that there are no substantive legal impediments to the use of EDF resources for HIPC. But, there has been an understandable delay, pending your assumption of duties in working up a full proposal. Now that you are in office, we urge you to make this one of your first priorities.
This is a major opportunity for Europe to take a strong political lead on one of the great issues of our time. Debt relief will be one of the most important issues to be discussed at the Annual Meetings. Although final agreement to use any of the EDF underspends rests with the joint European Union and African, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) Ministerial Council, we believe that a Commission Position Paper outlining the options for using the IEDF in time for the Annual Meetings would be very helpful in securing agreement to a financing package for HIPC as a whole. That in turn would allow the new HIPC to be in place as the new Millennium begins. We believe that such a Position Paper from the Commission would receive widespread support from the citizens of the EU and ACP.
We are copying this letter to our EU Finance and Development colleagues.
GORDON BROWN CLARE SHORT
Chancellor of the Exchequer Secretary of State for
International Development
The press release issued by HM Treasury on 16 September 1999.
A concerted autumn campaign to shine a spotlight on the Government’s improvements in local services and drive standards up to the levels of the best took a further turn today as Chief Secretary Alan Milburn visited a range of innovative local transport schemes in the Nottingham area.
He is determined to see for himself what is happening at a local level to deliver the Government’s modernisation and reform programme. Following a look at Youth Court activities in Teesside last week he will today be visiting; a highly acclaimed local rail service, the Robin Hood Line; a rural bus scheme which has links to it; a safe route to school project operated by Whyburn School; and the Rainworth Bypass road scheme.
Alan Milburn commented:
” The Government is determined to drive forward its modernisation programme to provide the high quality services throughout the country that we all want to see.
A lot of imaginative and innovative work is going on at a local level to deliver the Government’s commitment to a more integrated transport system. I am very pleased to be here in the Nottingham area today to see for myself what Nottingham City Council and the County Council are doing to reduce congestion, improve safety and encourage the greater use of public transport.”
The Chief Secretary will be meeting a number of senior representatives from Nottingham City Council and the County Council as he travels on the Robin Hood Line. The lines eleven new stations have been specifically designed to be accessible by people with disabilities and for interchange with car, bus and cycle.
As he visits Newstead Abbey he will be learning about the regular bus services that are being provided to this major tourist attraction, with links to the Robin Hood Line.
He will be discussing with school staff and local authority representatives the safe route to school project being operated by Whyburn School. The aim of such schemes is to reduce accidents around schools as well as reduce the number of cars used to transport children to and from school.
The Rainworth Bypass is part of the Mansfield Ashfield Regeneration Route, designed to open up land for development and improve access to the former coalfield area.