This item was published during the term of a previous administration that ended in April 2007
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Atkinson Review
31/01/2005
The final report of the Atkinson Review examining the
measurement of government output and productivity was
published today.
Public Service Reform Minister Tom McCabe said it will
make a significant contribution to the accurate measurement
of public sector productivity in the UK and Scotland where
the Executive participated fully.
Mr McCabe said:
"The Executive is committed to improving the delivery of
public services and ensuring we spend taxpayers' money
wisely.
"We are already making progress in measuring what we and
the wider public sector do and this process will continue
with our Efficient Government initiative.
"This report will undoubtedly make a significant
contribution to the measurement of public sector output and
productivity in the UK. The Scottish Executive has been
working closely with Sir Tony and his team throughout the
whole review process and this features in his final
report.
"It is important we play a full part in this work that
is going on at the UK level. The UK National Accounts
should fully reflect activity the Executive is undertaking
here in Scotland and we will continue to work with the
Office of National Statistics to ensure that happens.
"Drawing on this work, we will aim to introduce enhanced
measures of public sector activity specifically for
Scotland. I completely support the view of the report that
any statistical methods we use have to be robust and
implemented in a transparent way after rigorous
scrutiny."