§ Mr. Tim SmithTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what specific financial, efficiency and quality of service targets he has approved for the central veterinary laboratory for the current year and for the longer term.
§ Mr. MacleanI announced the laboratory's financial and efficiency targets for 1990–91 in my written answer to my hon. Friend the Member for Ludlow (Mr. Gill) on 30 March 1990 at column364. It is, of course, for the laboratory's customers to specify appropriate quality standards for individual contracts, but I attach great importance to all contracts being completed on time and to a high standard. The laboratory's current peer review arrangements will also continue.
I am still considering the question of appropriate longer-term targets as I am determined that improvements in efficiency should not be made at the expense of quality or of the laboratory's ability to respond effectively in an emergency.