Policy Hub
On 14 July 2004 HM Treasury published what is known as the 'Gershon report' (Releasing Resources to the Front Line - Independent Review of Public Sector Efficiency).
The report identifies efficiency measures which by 2008 will produce annual savings of some £21b. It found that, despite an investment of £6b in Public Sector IT since 2000, there had been a failure to restructure processes to reduce paper handling. Public bodies also preferred a policy of self sufficiency in which they provided all their own services, such as back office systems, which were replicated across many organizations.
As well as citing the importance of evidence based policy as a lever for improving performance, the report identifies target areas for efficiency gains e.g. human resources, finance, IT - and the simplification and standardisation of transactional services. Procurement can be sharpened up by ending multiple buying by many purchasers from a single supplier. The productive time of teachers doctors and police officers can be increased by reducing bureaucracy and providing assistance to relieve pressure.
Responsibility for delivering the efficiencies will rest with central departments, which will cascade their commitments to health trusts, local councils, police and other public bodies. This will create a public service efficiency delivery chain.
The report can be viewed on HM Treasury website