XN000022-1982-04-15 — Page 5

THURSDAY, APRIL 15, 1982

4.

THE GOVERNMENT WAS CONSCIOUS OF THE NEED TO TAKE A DYNAMIC VIEW OF THE ORGANISATION OF ITS INTERNAL ADMINISTRATION.

HE ALSO ASSURED MEMBERS THAT THE ADDITIONAL POSTS FOR WHICH THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY WAS SEEKING FUNDS IN HIS BUDGET WOULD ONLY BE CREATED IF DEPARTMENTAL ESTABLISHMENT COMMITTEES (DEC'S WERE SATISFIED THAT A PROPERLY ARGUED CASE WERE MADE OUT.

+ALTHOUGH, IN THEORY, PROVISION IS BEING SOUGHT FOR AN ADDITIONAL 16 500 POSTS, I AM CONFIDENT THAT, IN PRACTICE, A LESSER NUMBER WILL BE CREATED EVEN IF SO MANY COULD BE RECRUITED AND ABSORBED, HE SAID.

HE EMPHASISED THAT DEC'S AND PARTICULARLY THE FINANCE BRANCH AND CIVIL SERVICE BRANCH REPRESENTATIVES ON THEM -- WOULD BE AT PAINS TO ENSURE THAT THE SCOPE FOR THE REDEPLOYMENT OF STAFF IN EXISTING POSTS HAD BEEN FULLY EXPLORED.

AND THE ESTABLISHMENT SUB-COMMITTEE, IN ITS PROGRAMME OF REGULAR REVIEWS OF DEPARTMENTAL ESTABLISHMENTS, WOULD DOUBTLESS CHECK THAT THIS HAD BEEN DONE, HE ADDED.

REFERRING TO THE HON MISS LYDIA DUNN'S QUESTION ABOUT THE CONTINUING RELEVANCE OF THE GOVERNMENT SECRETARIAT CONCEPT, SIR PHILIP SAID: +RATHER THAN DISMANTLE THE GOVERNMENT SECRETARIAT IN FAVOUR OF ANOTHER SET OF ADMINISTRATIVE ARRANGEMENTS FOR FORMULATING AND DIRECTING AND COORDINATING POLICIES IN OUR VARIOUS PROGRAMME AREAS, I THINK IT IS WISER TO SEEK TO ADAPT THE PRESENT ARRANGEMENTS WITH A VIEW TO SPEEDING UP THE DECISION-MAKING PROCESS, IMPROVING THE SERVICING OF THE NETWORK OF BOARDS AND COMMITTEES ASSOCIATED WITH THE CENTRAL GOVERNMENT AND DEVELOPING A MORE RESPONSIVE AND MORE COHERENT RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN POLICY BRANCHES AND BETWEEN POLICY BRANCHES AND DEPARTMENTS.+

HE ALSO MENTIONED THAT MORE ATTENTION SHOULD BE PAID TO THE WAY IN WHICH DEPARTMENTS WERE ACCOMMODATED.

+THERE ARE TOO MANY INSTANCES OF DEPARTMENTS IN SCATTERED AND UNSUITABLE PREMISES, WHICH UNTIDY SITUATIONS ARE NOT CONDUCIVE TO EFFICIENCY, + SIR PHILIP SAID.

THE GOVERNMENT, HE ADDED, WAS PURSUING THE SEARCH_FOR SERVICES WHICH MIGHT BE CONTRACTED OUT AND FOR SUITABLE CANDIDATES FOR HIVING-OFF AS COMMERCIAL OR QUASI-COMMERCIAL VENTURES TO OPERATE AS PUBLIC CORPORATIONS.

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