4 March 2004
INNOVATION CENTRAL TO GOVERNMENT’S REFORM AGENDA: PEARSON
Ian Pearson, Minister responsible for reforming public services, today said that government was pressing ahead with new ways of delivering public services, linking innovation and expertise with the core principles of equality, opportunity and choice.
Speaking at the ‘Reform, Improve, Deliver Conference’, in Belfast, Mr Pearson unveiled what he described as a "distinctive yet effective approach to reform and modernisation" for Northern Ireland.
Mr Pearson said: "We need public services that are, and are seen to be, excellent or improving or both. People want services that meet their expectations and are responsive to their needs.
"The approach I am outlining today will complement our work to address the historic under-investment of the past in Northern Ireland’s infrastructure with a framework for reform and modernisation, that will extend across the full range of public services here. That framework will focus not just on specific sectoral reforms such as those planned in health or education. It will also focus on joining up government so that services match the needs of those using them – and those paying for them; on redefining how government and citizen interact with one another; and on putting in place the right structures to support the delivery of citizen-focused public services."
A key element of the overall reform process is the Review of Public Administration, on which a major consultation has just concluded, the Minister said.
"The Review of Public Administration is the most far- reaching examination of how public services should be delivered to citizens that I am aware of anywhere – apart, possibly, from Iraq.
"The consultation process generated many responses. During that time, I met with the main political parties and once we have had a chance to consider all the responses, which will be published on the Review website, I will meet them again to discuss the outcome, and the way forward. We need to be sensitive to any implications for the wider political process, but I am optimistic that it is possible to work with the political parties to develop a broad consensus, which is specific about structures, and has broad agreement on the main political elements. I would hope to publish this for consultation later this year, possibly in the Autumn."
The Minister said the Reinvestment and Reform Initiative (RRI) was seeing a significant injection of investment into Northern Ireland’s infrastructure.
"This is an unprecedented investment programme and it is matched by substantial additional spending on our key services of health and education. That is why we are moving forward with plans to reform the Water Service here and make it self-financing. It is also why we are committed to delivering a modern and fairer rating system."
He added: "We need to find new ways of engaging people in decisions on how and where government should act. To help ensure that our policies are efficient and cost-effective as they might be, we are moving forward an efficiency review as part of the preparations for the outcome of the Spending Review 2004. I expect that outcome to reflect a slowdown of the growth in public expenditure that we have seen over recent years, but that should not hamper the drive to improve services and our efficiency review must have a strong focus on releasing resources to support key frontline services."
Referring to priorities for reform, Mr Pearson said: "We will continue our programme of reform and modernisation to deliver specific and tangible improvements in, for example, acute hospitals, the planning system and our public transport infrastructure. We also need to focus on how we can strengthen our economic position. Reforms, in areas such as extending broadband coverage, repositioning our agri-food sector in a changing market and the opening up of energy markets, will greatly enhance Northern Ireland’s competitive position.
"Our focus must be on improving services – not simply on rearranging structures or changing internal administrative practices. Reform must be a means, rather than an end in itself."
NOTES TO EDITORS:
- Today’s conference has the theme Reform; Improve; Deliver and is aimed at senior figures from across the Northern Ireland public service. The conference aims to challenge leaders in the public service here with new ways of thinking about how they lead and why they need to improve and modernise public services. The conference is being hosted by the Head of the Northern Ireland Civil Service, Nigel Hamilton.
Key speakers, including the Minister, Ian Pearson, and Nigel Hamilton are:
- Sir Jon Shortridge KCB, Permanent Secretary of the National Assembly of Wales
- John Elvidge, Permanent Secretary to the Scottish Executive
- Dermot McCarthy, Secretary General, Department of the Taoiseach
- John Dowdall, Comptroller & Auditor General
- Eleanor Gill, Chief Executive General Consumer Council
- Chris Thompson, former Chief Executive of the Social Security Agency
- The conference is being complemented by an exhibition designed to showcase good practice in public service management and delivery from Northern Ireland, Scotland, Wales and the Republic of Ireland.
- The responses, which have been received by the Team carrying out the Review of Public Administration, will be published shortly on www.rpani.gov.uk
- Media enquiries to the OFMDFM Press Office, telephone
028 9037 8106.
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