Scottish Government

Title

Public Sector Efficiency

National Indicator/Target

Improve public sector efficiency through the generation of 2% cash releasing efficiencies per annum, over each of the three years to 2010-11.

Brief Description

The aim of Efficient Government is to reduce waste and duplication and improve the productivity of the public sector in Scotland without any reduction of service quality.

The 2% cash releasing efficiency target will deliver £1.6bn of efficiency gains by 2010-11.

Strategic Objective(s) to Which Indicator Relates

This indicator will inform progress in relation to the Wealthier and Fairer Strategic Objective.

The benefits of the released efficiencies are expected to positively impact on the other 4 strategic objectives: Healthier; Safer and Stronger; Smarter and Greener.

More Detailed Definitions

Definitions of Keywords

Cash releasing efficiency gain: The same, or greater, output is delivered for less input.

Departmental Expenditure Limits (DEL) which are set over the spending review years.

Evidence Source

The efficiency target is measured in pounds against individual portfolios' 2007-2008 DEL budget. Efficiency gains are therefore transparent and easily measurable.

Baseline and Past Trends

The baseline is the 2007/08 DEL budget. The Efficient Government Outturn Report for 2006-2007, published on 14 November 2007, confirmed the previous cash target (£582m) was exceeded.

http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2007/09/Outturn2007

Methodology for Data Source

Simple count.

Data Ownership and Quality Assurance

The data is provided by individual projects and programmes and monitored by the Efficient Government Division within Scottish Government. The annual outturn report will be published by the Scottish Government and can be subjected to external audit by Audit Scotland.

Publication of Data

An annual report of progress will be published in the first week of September on the Scottish Governments website. A copy will also be lodged with SPICe.

http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2010/10/Outturn2009-10

Methodology for Recent Change Arrow on Scotland Performs

This evaluation is based on the following: if the efficiency savings meet or exceed the target figure given above for the relevant year then it suggests that the position is improving, whilst if this target is not met the position is worsening.