HC Deb 29 April 1993 vol 223 c497W
Mr. Michael Brown

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what key performance targets have been set for 1993–94 for the chief executive of the Chemical and Biological Defence Establishment.

Mr. Aitken

The chief executive of the Chemical and Biological Defence Establishment at Porton Down is responsible for research to ensure that the United Kingdom armed forces are provided with effective protective measures against the threat that chemical and biological weapons may be used against them. He has been set the following challenging key performance targets for 1993–94:

  • Improved delivery of the programme
    1. 1. In 1993–94 to achieve, within agreed timescales, 88 per cent. of the programme milestones agreed with customers.
    2. 2. In 1993–94 to complete 82 per cent. of the agreed programme assignments required by customers within the specified cost and to keep within CBDE's overall budget.
    3. 3. To sustain the CB research programme and the capability of CBDE to respond effectively to operational emergencies by maintaining scientific and technical staff to at least 70 per cent. of the total planned manpower.
  • More efficient use of resources
    1. 4. To increase the overall efficiency of CBDE by at least 2.5 per cent. of the net budget less capital works over the financial year 1993–94 with emphasis on improving output efficiency.
    2. 5. To continue the agreed Market Testing programme identified by the Feasibility/Scoping Study, including the preparation of the specification in 1993–94, to produce an in-house bid and to complete the process by 31 March 1995.
    3. 6. In 1993–94 to increase the percentage of CBDE cash expenditure (less captial works) attributed to direct costs by 5 per cent. to 60 per cent. using the database established in 1992–93.
  • Development of management systems
    1. 7. To extend the improved resource allocation and cost attribution system to provide project costs on a full cost basis by March 1994.