Efforts to cut Civil Service costs and improve efficiency have prompted the launch of several working groups, it was revealed today.

Premier Michael Dunkley told the House of Assembly these were part of a strategic framework adopted as part of the Public Service Reform Initiative.

The initiative was announced in February and outlined sweeping changes to the Civil Service to make it more effective.

The move is in response to a report in November, 2013 by the Savings and Government Efficiency Commission (SAGE), which included more than 200 recommendations and observations to cut costs and streamline working practices.

Mr Dunkley told the House that the working groups established would focus on human resources, asset rationalisation, digital services and pension and benefits, among other issues.

“Draft terms of reference for each of the working groups have been produced and preliminary short and medium-term action plans are in the development stages,” he said.

“The action plans set out the steps to be taken to implement those SAGE recommendations that the Government will determine that it supports.”

The groups will include representatives from the unions and private sector, and skilled technical officers.

Mr Dunkley highlighted that reform was necessary given the current economic instability.

“The Government accepts that the cost of running Government and substantial debt threatens to destabilise the financial future of the organisation,” he said. “Further, public expectations coupled with budget cuts require realignment of the organisation and the delivery of services.

“The Public Service Reform Initiative represents a significant undertaking over a sustained period that will affect internal operations as well as the delivery of services.

“The working groups are our implementation teams and they will be held accountable for the delivery of the change initiatives assigned.”

Mr Dunkley stressed that the Government had already begun to address critical issues raised by SAGE.

These include “structure and accountability within the public service” and a “reduction in the size and cost of the public service through disposal of non-core functions”.

Work focusing on the structure and implications of pension funds is also under way.