HISTORIC PRESS RELEASE : New Team of top private and public sector experts appointed to drive forward improvements in public services [September 2000]
The press release issued by HM Treasury on 15 September 2000.
The membership of a new, expanded team of top private and public sector experts to help departments and agencies find fresh, practical ways to improve the performance and delivery of public services was announced today by the Chief Secretary, Andrew Smith.
The Public Services Productivity Panel, which originally became fully operational in 1999 under the Chairmanship of the Chief Secretary, was such a success that it has been decided to renew and expand it. Panel members are freely giving up their time to work with him to improve the quality of public services for everyone. The new Panel’s first meeting was held yesterday at No 11 Downing Street.
The Government’s 2000 spending review pledged a massive increase of £43 billion in funding for public services, but also set demanding targets for improved service delivery through new Public Service Agreements. A key role of the Panel is to help the government deliver and preferably outperform the PSA targets.
Andrew Smith commented:
“The Government is determined to make the very best use of the added investment it is providing for Britain’s key public services.
“I am very grateful for all the hard work and imaginative ideas that the original Panel members contributed to help improve performance across the public sector. I am also very pleased to be able to announce the new membership of an expanded Panel to build on this work. I believe that we will be able to draw on the wealth of experience of the new Panel to drive forward further improvements.”
The members of the Panel are:
Andrew Smith (Chair), Chief Secretary to the Treasury
Lynton Barker, Head of Management Consultancy Services, Pricewaterhouse Coopers
Keith Burgess, Former Global Managing Partner, Andersen Consulting
Caroline Burton, Board member, London Pension Fund Authority and Investment Panel member for various pension funds
Sir Ian Byatt, Former Director General, OFWAT
Pat Carter, Direct investor in US & European healthcare and technology businesses
Fiona Driscoll, Director/Marketing, Defence Evaluation Research Agency
Michael Frye, Chairman, Lynara (Management) Ltd
Andrew Foster, Controller, Audit Commission
Sir Michael Lyons, Chief Executive, Birmingham City Council
John Miskelly, Chairman of JM and Director of Blueprint Group Ltd
Greg Parston, Chief Executive, Office for Public Management
Lord Simon, Advisor to the Cabinet Office
Lord Sainsbury, Minister of State, DTI
Clare Spottiswoode, Former Associate Partner of PA Consulting Group
John Smith, Director of Finance, BBC
David Varney, Chief Executive, BG Group
Professor Sir Adrian Webb, Vice Chancellor, University of Glamorgan
The Government intends to supplement the skills and experience of the Panel by appointing a person with a trade union background as soon as possible.
The Panel will be developing a new work programme, in consultation with public services, over the next month. Details of the programme will be announced at that time.
