TNAG-1851-FCO40-2626-House-of-Commons-Select-Committee-on-Foreign-Affairs-enquiry-1989 — Page 25

FCO40 Hong Kong Department Records 聯邦事務部香港部檔案 All

34

3 May 1989]

MINUTES OF EVIDENCE TAKEN BEFORE

[Continued

No. Area of Activity and

Department

9.

Communications

A) Communications

Operations Department

(B) Technical Security

Department

(C) Communications

Administration Department

10. Defence Department Defence Department

VALUE FOR MONEY TARGETS 1989-90 (continued)

Targets

Any further action if target not final

(i) Telephone Call Logging

To establish a structure of cost centres and realistic

baselines for telephone usage so that a policy of positive management of the FCO's home telephone system can be developed using call logging information. The target would be a 3 per cent reduction in real telephone costs in the second half of 1989-90 compared to the first half. (ii) Message Handling System

To maintain the present staff establishment while handling an expected 15 per cent increase in telegram traffic during the year 1989-90 through continued exploitation of the Message Handling System. Increase installation rate of new telephone exchanges in posts overseas from 10-14 per year to reduce the maintenance commitments of TSD resident engineers (resulting in gain of about six man years for other technical security work).

To reduce the cost per kilo/mile of mainly classified freight delivered by road transport to European missions by 10 per cent during 1989-90 (from 0.43p per kilo to 0.38 per kilo, total saving £?10,000).

To reduce the total cost in 1989-90 of the LSP team in Zimbabwe by 10 per cent on 1987-88 figures. (Approx £100.000).

Finalised target.

Finalised target.

Finalised target.

11. Non-Governmental Organisations Commonwealth Co- ordination

Protocol Department

To agree with the Commonwealth Institute targets for revenue generation, and for significantly reduced long- term dependence on grant-in-aid funding, through the preparation and implementation of a Corporate Plan based on professional assessments of the Institute's commercial revenue-generating capacity, its site development potential, and capital requirements.

To achieve 1500 fewer unpaid diplomatic parking fines in 1989-90 than in 1988-89 (both through more being paid, and less fines being incurred).

To reduce by 50 per cent the outstanding unpaid rates owed by Foreign Missions, amounting to £712,000 at

1 April 1988.

Finalised target.

Finalised target.

12. Air freight

Information Dept, COD, OSTD, OED

To achieve savings of £300,000 in 1989-90 after putting out to competitive tender contract for air freight (for all departments).

FCO SUPPLY ESTIMATES 1989–90 (EST/48)

Memorandum submitted by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office

1. Could you provide breakdowns of subheads AI(i), (2) and (3)?

Since the Estimate was published changes in the subtotals for subheads AI(1) and AI(3) have been necessary to reflect a further expansion of delegation to Posts from 1 April 1989 when Posts assumed full responsibility for locally-engaged staff terminal gratuities, social security and provident fund contributions (£6.7 million), and for stationery (£1.5 million).

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