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SCOTTISH EXECUTIVE EFFICIENCY TECHNICAL NOTES: MARCH 2005: page 12

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SCOTTISH EXECUTIVE EFFICIENCY TECHNICAL NOTES: MARCH 2005

5. EDUCATION AND YOUNG PEOPLE

1. Portfolio/Number/Name:EYP/C1 Efficiency savings in the Scottish Qualifications Authority

2. Programme/Activity: Please include a short description

SQA will deliver continuous improvement and increasing efficiencies in financial management leading to more efficient operational activity.

3. Planned Savings

2005-06

2006-07

2007-08

Cash (m)

0.3

0.7

1.0

Time Releasing (m)

0

0

0

4. Accountable Officer for delivery

Mike Ewart

5. Project Manager

Kenny McKenzie

6. EGDG account manager

Gillian Woolman

7. Quality Impact

Describe any impact on the quality of service delivery. Be specific and explain if the expectation is positive, negative or neutral.

Neutral

8. Dependencies

Explain if your savings are dependent on legislation or other structural changes being achieved.

None

9. Description of efficiency and actions to be taken

9.1 How will the saving being made? Be specific about number/size of contracts, staff, posts, dates, etc.

Procurement and purchasing regimes will be improved and budget holders will be required to continuously challenge the need to incur cost. Operational costs will be flat-lined across each of the three years and savings to offset the impact of inflation on an ongoing basis.

9.2 What action is critically needed to secure delivery of this saving? Be specific, name the key action managers if they are outwith your immediate management chain (eg in an NDPB)

Delivery is dependent on the SQA. As Chief Executive of the SQA, Anton Colella is accountable for the delivery of these savings.

10. Impact on Staffing to achieve the efficiency gain

If there are to be any changes in staff numbers (at activity level) to achieve the efficiency gain, please indicate how many full time equivalents and how far you expect savings to be achieved by natural wastage (show additions as + and reductions as -).

2005- 06

2006- 07

2007- 08

+

-

Net

Explanation

N/A

11. Benefits

In general, the benefits of the Scottish Executive Efficiency Plan are the enhanced outputs from the resources Minister have been able to allocate in SR04. but if there is a direct connection between this efficiency saving and the enhancement of a particular service please describe it here.

N/A

12. Gross/Net Cash Savings

12.1 Please set out the gross recurring saving and any offsetting recurring expenditure.

0.3m in 2005-06, 0.7m in 2006-07 and 1m in 2007-08

12.2 Against which budget does this expenditure and saving fall?

SQA Resource - A/C60100290

12.3 Has this saving been built into your budget?

Yes

12.4 If so, what is the maximum allowable expenditure against the budget data, in each year, for that saving to be delivered?

11.5m in 2005-06, 8.7m in 2006-07 and 8.2m in 2007-08

12.5 If not, how do you propose to invest the additional cash back into public services?

N/A

12.6 What plans do you have to exceed the required saving? Explain by how much in each year.

N/A

13. Time - release savings

13.1 Please explain any time-releasing savings indicated at question 3

N/A

13.2 Please describe the method you plan to use to calculate the cash equivalent of those time release savings

N/A

14. Measurement and Monitoring

14.1 How are you proposing to measure the expected efficiency benefits (eg in terms of costs, level of output or quality of service)?

Delivery will be measured through monthly financial monitoring and annual budget setting exercises.

14.2 What monitoring and reporting procedures will be put in place to measure the efficiency savings (How often will progress towards the target be monitored? Who will have lead responsibility for reporting progress and what procedures are in place?)

Efficiency savings will be monitored as part of the normal monthly financial monitoring provided by SQA.

14.3 Monitoring Data: Sources, validation and risks

  • What data will be used to measure progress? Is all the required information quantifiable and readily available? If not what action will be taken to rectify this?

  • What measures will be in place to validate the accuracy of the data? Who will take responsibility for this?

  • Are there any issues or risks relating to how you plan to use the data? (e.g. accuracy, difficulties in collection)

    Progress will be measured through the provision of financial data provided to the sponsor team by SQA

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Page updated: Thursday, March 31, 2005