Efficient Government Programme 2008/9 - 2010/11
Top five key facts
1. £1.6bn target for Scotland by the end of 2010-11, counted from a 2007-08 baseline, with contributions from all parts of the public sector. (2% of 07-08 Del).
2. Efficiencies contributing to this must be cash-releasing, and should primarily be recurring, but one-off efficiency gains also count. (cash releasing= delivering same services using less £).
3. Published Efficiency Delivery Plans describe the detail of each project and the expected amount of efficiencies; annual outturn is reported to Cabinet and scrutinised by Parliament's Finance Committee and Audit Scotland.
4. All about continuous improvement, the principle of best public value, changing our working practices and measuring how much better we are in using our resources. Potential for huge 'reputational' benefits for all parts of Scottish public sector being seen as increasingly efficient and effective.
5. A 'moral' obligation. We spend public ££££s so the public has a right to be confident that we do so efficiently and accountably.
Efficiency Process & Guidance
The document Process and Guidance sets out the principles underpinning the Scottish Government Efficient Government programme, provides guidance on efficiency gains, and details the efficiency monitoring processes undertaken by the Efficiency and Transformational Government Division. Given the nature of the subject it is not intended to be exhaustive but to help with commonly occurring points of principle.
In December 2008, a supplementary note was issued clarifying the position of efficiencies that release "notional cash" savings. We also produced further guidance in relation to procurement and the programme, and additional guidance on ways in which public sector bodies might generate income sources that count towards efficiency targets.
The most recent Revised Efficiency Delivery Plans were published in May 2010.
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The first edition of Efficiency Delivery Plans was published on 15 April 2008, with an accompanying news release; the fully revised plans date from May 2008; and the third edition was published on 6 April 2009. These plans were revised in November 2009.
The First Outturn report for the Efficiency Programme was published in November 2009, covering 2008-09.
The Second Outturn report, covering 2009-10, was published in October 2010.
The Final Outturn report, covering 2010-11, was published in September 2011.