Executive Agencies (Hansard, 30 October 1992)

§ Mr. Mates

Responsibility for the subject of the question has been delegated to the following agencies under their respective chief executives.

Training and Employment Agency—Mr. J. Crozier
Rates Collection Agency—Mr. D. Gallagher
Social Security Agency—Mr. A. Wylie
Ordnance Survey Agency—Mr. M. Brand
Driver and Vehicle Testing Agency—Mr. B. Watson
Compensation Agency—Mr. J. Robinson

I have asked them to arrange for a reply to be given.

Letter from J. S. Crozier to Mr. Martin Redmond, dated 29 October 1992:

You asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he would list for the last 12 months, the titles of papers published by the chief executive of each executive agency for which he is responsible.

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During the last twelve months I, as the Chief Executive of the Training and Employment Agency (Northern Ireland) (T and EA), issued the following publications:

Annual Review April 1990-March 1991

Get Your Business into Training

Labour Market Skill Trends Bulletin—November 1991 (Issue No. 1)

Labour Market Skill Trends Bulletin —May 1992 (Issue No. 4)

Directory of Services
Corporate Plan 1992–95
Business Plan 1992–93
Annual Review April 1991-March 1992
Directory of Training Providers
Customer's Charter
Financial Statements April 1990-March 1991
Training Magazine—Issues 8 to 11 (quarterly)

Letter from D. W. Gallagher to Mr. Martin Redmond, dated 27 October 1992:

As I am responsible for the Northern Ireland Rate Collection Agency, the Secretary of State has asked me to reply to some Parliamentary Questions recently put down by you. These related to papers published by the Agency during the last 12 months and any fact-finding visits undertaken by myself during the same period.

As you may know, the Rate Collection Agency was established on 1 April 1992. During the last 12 months I have issued the Agency's 1992–93 Business Plan. Our 1991–92 Annual Report will be published shortly.

I would also advise that I have not undertaken any fact finding visits over the same period.

I hope that this information answers your questions but please let me know if I can be of any further help.

Letter from A. Wylie to Mr. Martin Redmond, dated 27 October 1992:

Your recent Parliamentary Question asking for the titles of papers published during the last 12 months by the Chief Executive of each Executive Agency has been passed to me for reply as I am responsible for the Northern Ireland Social Security Agency.

During the last 12 months there have been 4 documents produced by the Agency. The titles are:

Strategic Plan 1992–96 and Business Plan 1992–93 (published May 1992)

Customer Charter (published July 1992)

Customer Survey Report 1991 (published August 1992)

Report of Findings of the Customer Survey 1991 (shorter version of main report)

Under the terms of its Framework Document the Agency prepares each year and submits to the Minister a Strategic and Business Plan. In line with the commitment in the Northern Ireland Citizen's Charter the Social Security Agency published a Customer Charter in July 1992. This sets out what the Agency's customers can expect in terms of a good quality service and the action they can take if things go wrong.

As part of its objective to consult its customers and as stated in its Customer Charter the Agency arranged for an independent survey of customer opinion on the quality of service it provides. The findings of the 1991 survey were published in the form of a main report and an executive summary.

Of the 4 documents only the Customer Survey Report 1991 and the Report of Findings of the Customer Survey 1991 were formally published and available through HMSO. The Strategic Plan 1992–96 and Business Plan 1992–93 and the Customer Charter were publicised and placed in the Libraries of both Houses of Parliament.

I hope this is helpful to you and I will be pleased to provide any further information you may require.

Letter from J. F. Codd to Mr. Martin Redmond, dated 27 October 1992:

You have asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, if he will list, for the last 12 months, the titles of papers published by the Chief Executives of each Executive Agency for which he is responsible.

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Ordnance Survey of Northern Ireland was launched as a Next Steps Agency on 1 April 1992 and therefore the period covered by this reply begins on that date. The following papers by Mr. J. D. Brand, Chief Executive and Director of Ordnance Survey of Northern Ireland have been published:

1. "Ordnance Survey of Northern Ireland—Framework Document", April 1992.

2. "Ordnance Survey of Northern Ireland—Business Plan 1992–93", October 1992.

3. "Data 'THE' Investment", published in the proceedings of AM/FM International European Conference, October 1992.

Letter from J. B. Watson to Mr. Martin Redmond, dated 29 October 1992:

I am responding to your recent Parliamentary Question seeking information on titles of papers published over the last 12 months by Executive Agencies.

The following papers have been published by the Driver & Vehicle Testing Agency:

The Framework Document
The Business Plan.

Letter from J. Robinson to Mr. Martin Redmond, dated 27 October 1992:

I refer to your recent Parliamentary Question about the titles of papers published by executive agencies in Northern Ireland. The Secretary of State has asked me to provide the information in respect of the Compensation Agency.

I have published one paper since this Agency was established on 1 April 1992 namely "The Compensation Agency: Business Plan 1992–1993".