Information minister stresses public money efficiency

Manama, Nov.25 (BNA): Information and Parliament Affairs Minister Isa bin Abdulrahman Al-Hammadi stressed continued coordination with ministries and government departments to reduce recurrent expenditure relating to advertisements, publications, subscriptions and stationary. "The drive is part of the Government's adopted policies to rationalise public spending", he said as he chaired the meeting of the taskforce in charge of slashing the recurrent costs of advertisements, publications, subscriptions and stationary. He announced plans to continue meetings with ministries and government departments, as well as field visits, to get useful data and documents and study proposals to slash spending and rationalise the use of public money without impacting Government's workflow and quality services and productivity. "The taskforce continues studying and assessing programmes and procedures at Government departments so as to achieve economic efficiency and enhance productivity, good governance and transparency in managing public money and reduce recurrent expenditure", he said. He added that the recommendations and comments featuring in the National Audit Office (NAO) Report would be taken into account, stressing the drive to alleviate the repercussions resulting from the oil price slump. He stressed the keenness of ministries and government departments to rationalise public money spending, integrate modern technologies in government work flow, protect and develop revenues and use modern and innovative systems in providing quality services. Al-Hammadi said that the recommendations of the taskforce would be submitted to the Ministerial Committee for Financial Affairs and the Rationalisation of Spending on December 1, prior to their referral to the Executive Committee, which is chaired by His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al-Khalifa, Crown Prince, Deputy Supreme Commander and First Deputy Premier.