1. Portfolio/Number/Name:EYP/C1 Efficiency savings in the Scottish Qualifications Authority |
2. Programme/Activity: SQA will deliver continuous improvement and increasing efficiencies in financial management leading to more efficient operational activity. |
3. Efficiency | 3.1 Current target; £m | | 2005-06 | 2006-07 | 2007-08 |
Cash | 0.3 | 0.7 | 1.0 |
Time | 0 | 0 | 0 |
3.2 Efficiencies delivered; £m | | 2005-06 | 2006-07 | 2007-08 |
Cash | 0.5 | - | - |
Time | 0 | - | - |
4. Accountable Officer for delivery | Colin MacLean, Head of Education Department Anton Colella, Chief Executive, Scottish Qualifications Authority |
5. Project Manager | Kenny McKenzie |
6. EGDD Portfolio Manager | Fiona Page |
7. Description of efficiency and actions to be taken | 7.1 What is the efficiency improvement? How will the efficiencies be made? 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. |
7.2 What are the main actions that are needed to secure the delivery of this efficiency improvement? Delivery is dependent on the SQA continuing to effectively deliver its functions despite flat-lined operational costs. The SQA's Chief Executive is accountable for the delivery of these savings. SQA is continuing to critically review and challenge budgets throughout the financial year and drive efficiencies from its operations through continuous improvement. |
8. Associated costs | 8.1 Are there any development or redundancy costs associated with the delivery of this efficiency? No |
9. Measurement | 9.1 What are the inputs that will be measured? The funding allocation to SQA has been reduced by the forecast efficiency savings, 2005/06: £0.3m, 2006/07: £0.7m, 2007/08: £1.0m. Therefore by ensuring that the SQA remains within agreed budget, ie line SQA Resource - A/C60100290 (£11.5m in 2005-06, £8.7m in 2006-07 and £8.2m in 2007-08) the reduction in input will have been achieved. |
9.2 What are the outputs that will be measured? SQA must demonstrate the same level of agreed service delivery despite the reduction in inputs. Outputs to be measured are SQA's Operational Costs and the SQA's quarterly business plan monitoring reports. |
9.3 What is the baseline for inputs and outputs? 2004/05 operational costs were £14.7m. Service delivery achievements as measured through business plan monitoring will be the baseline for ensuring service delivery is not adversely affected. |
10. Quality cross-check | 10.1 What quality indicators are being used to ensure that quality of service is maintained or improved? 2004/05 service delivery achievements are the baseline against which we would evaluate the level of service being delivered. The main indicator of SQA service delivery is the SQA's performance in delivering the annual Examinations Diet. Targets for Diet delivery are agreed annually and monitored through SQA's Certification and Planning Group. An official from SEEDQuAC is a member of this group. |
11. Monitoring | 11.1 What are the arrangements for monitoring the delivery of efficiencies? Delivery will be measured through monthly financial monitoring and annual budget setting exercises. Efficiency savings will be monitored as part of the normal monthly financial monitoring provided by SQA to the Sponsor Team in SEED. |
12. Reporting | 12.1 What are the arrangements for reporting the delivery of efficiencies? Progress will be measured through the provision of financial data provided to the sponsor team by SQA |
13. Dependencies | 13.1 Explain if your efficiencies are dependant on legislation or other structural changes being achieved. No |
14. Use of efficiencies | 14.1 How are the efficiencies released from improvement activity being used to improve front-line services? This efficiency saving was assumed as part of the allocation made by the Scottish Executive to the Scottish Qualifications Authority This freed up resources for Ministers to allocate to their priorities. |