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Children's Fund

Answer

As part of my Department's aim to achieve 2.5 per cent. annual efficiency gains across the three years (2005–06 to 2007–08) Children's Fund partnerships have been asked to achieve savings by either reducing management costs by 2.5 per cent. of their allocation each year and redeploying these to front line services or achieving a net annual increase of 2.5 per cent. in the number of children and young people receiving regular support from the Children's Fund. Each partnership was required to set out in its delivery plan or in discussions with the Department how the efficiency gains would be achieved and how it would demonstrate their achievement.An initial analysis undertaken at the mid year point of 2005–06 indicated that savings of £3.8 million in Children's Fund Management costs were planned to be made by the end of the year. The actual savings made during 2005–06 will not be known until after the end of the year (around June 2006) when partnerships have had time to close off their accounts and establish their actual expenditure for the year.We will be measuring efficiency gains from a range of specific initiatives which contribute to our Gershon efficiency target, including the reduction of Children's Fund central management costs. These are set out in our Efficiency Technical Note. In most cases, the gains are recyclable at the frontline into other activities rather than being clawed back by the Department. The Department is reporting progress towards our overall efficiency target through existing departmental reporting processes. We reported progress towards our target in the Department's Autumn Performance Report and will report further progress in the Departmental Annual Report which we expect to publish in April.

Secondary information

Type

Written question

Reference

443 c516W;443 c515-6W; 52395

Session

2005-06

Subjects

Children Costs Children's Fund

Link

View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk