Oral Answers to Questions

Debbie Abrahams Excerpts

Wednesday 13th June 2012 Commons Chamber

[Mr Hurd]

The team does some very interesting work on encouraging behaviour to change in cost-effective ways. If my hon. Friend looks at the annual report, she will see some good examples. For instance, by slightly changing the wording in letters sent out by Her Majesty’s Revenue and Customs to self-assessment taxpayers who owed money, the team increased payment rates from 68% to 83%, which is estimated to lead to savings of £30 million a year in administrative and court costs if rolled out across the country.

[Debbie Abrahams (Oldham East and Saddleworth) (Lab)]

10. What steps he has taken to ensure clarity and efficiency in the delivery of policy across Government.

[The Minister for the Cabinet Office and Paymaster General (Mr Francis Maude)]

On 31 May we published business plans for 17 Government Departments, which clearly set out the actions that Departments will take to implement the Government’s reform priorities and by when. The No. 10 website publishes monthly updates on which actions have been completed and which are overdue.

[Debbie Abrahams]

Will the Minister explain how one Government policy operating in direct conflict with another—for example, the withdrawal of the right to flexible working conflicting with support for carers—amounts to efficiency?

[Mr Maude]

The particular issues are well outside my responsibilities, but I will cheerfully look at the question that the hon. Lady raises.