The Scottish Government

EFFICIENT GOVERNMENT PROGRAMME 2008/09 - 2010/11

Top Ten key facts

1. £1.6bn target for Scotland by the end of 2010-11. (2% of 07-08 Del)

2. Efficiencies contributing to this must be cash-releasing. (cash releasing= delivering same services using less £)

3. All parts of the public sector are expected to contribute to the £1.6bn target.

4. Efficiencies should primarily be recurring, but one-off efficiency gains also count towards the target.

5. Efficiencies must all be counted from a 2007-08 baseline.

6. Published Efficiency Delivery Plans describe the detail of each project and the amount of efficiencies they are expected to generate.

7. Annual outturn is reported to Cabinet and scrutinised by Parliament's Finance Committee and Audit Scotland.

8. All about continuous improvement, the principle of best public value, changing our working practices and measuring how much better we are in using our resources.

9. Potential for huge 'reputational' benefits for all parts of Scottish public sector being seen as increasingly efficient and effective.

10. A 'moral' obligation. We spend public ££££s so the public has a right to expect and be assured that we do so efficiently and accountably.

Efficiency Process & Guidance

The document linked at the end of this passage sets out the principles underpinning the Scottish Government Efficient Government programme, provides guidance on efficiency gains and details the efficiency monitoring processes undertaken by the Public Service Reform & Efficient Government Division. Given the nature of the subject it is not intended to be exhaustive but to help with commonly occurring points of principle.

Process & Guidance

In December 2008, a supplementay note was issued clarifying the position of efficiencies that release 'notional' cash savings - 'Notional' Cash

Further guidance in relation to procurement and the programme can be viewed here - Procurement .

Additional guidance on ways in which public sector bodies might generate income that counts towards efficiency targets can be viewed here - Income Sources .

Efficiency Delivery Plans

The third edition of the Efficiency Delivery Plans were published on 6 April 2009 and can be viewed here .

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The first edition of Efficiency Delivery Plans were published on 15 April 2008 and can be viewed here.

The accompanying news release can be viewed here.

A review of the Efficiency Delivery Plans was carried during May 2008 and the fully revised plans can be viewed here.