The agreement also provides that each sectoral performance verification group will maintain close contact with the various organisations under its remit throughout the reporting period. This contact will also help ensure that action to implement commitments will be early, consistent and effective. Performance verification groups for the Civil Service and the health, local government and education sectors will ensure that progress under the new agreement is sufficient to warrant payment. While this mechanism is similar to the quality assurance process which operated under the Programme for Prosperity and Fairness, I am satisfied that it will be even more rigorous, as progress can be assessed and payment awarded at sectoral, organisational and grade levels rather than – as was the case under the PPF – at organisational level only.