§ Dr. David ClarkTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will publish the criteria that he uses to assess the quality of work carried out by defence support agencies.
§ Mr. HanleyThe quality of the service delivered by defence agencies is measured in a number of ways which are tailored to the particular circumstances of each agency. Typically, these include key performance targets and agency reports and accounts, all of which are published annually, and the close involvement of the end user either through customer satisfaction surveys or formal boards, where representatives can ensure that their requirements are met and highlight any concerns. In some cases, defence agencies have achieved accreditation to BS5750 or have adopted a total quality approach to their activities—both giving my Department additional measures or quality or performance.
§ Dr. David ClarkTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will provide a list of all the performance targets that have been established for defence support agencies.
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§ Mr. HanleyThis is a matter of public record.
§ Dr. David ClarkTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence what defence support agencies he intends to establish in the next 12 months.
§ Mr. HanleyAreas under review for defence agency status in the next 12 months are the Ministry of Defence police; RAF Training Group; the Fleet Maintenance and Repair Organisation; the Naval Marine Services Organisation; Army Logistic Information Systems; Army Engineer Services; RAF Signals; test and evaluation; Sales (Disposals); Service Children's Schools abroad but outside the Service Children's Schools (North West Europe) defence agency.
This process will involve, inter alia, consideration of operational implications and of prior options, including privatisation and contracting out. Final decisions will be taken case-by-case if it is clear that the best solution is to retain the activity within the Ministry of Defence.
§ Dr. David ClarkTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence what was the weighted number of allied quality assurance publication non-conformances by the Naval Aircraft Repair Organisation defence support agency in 1992–93; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. HanleyThis matter falls within the responsibilities of the chief executive of the Naval Aircraft Repair Organisation defence agency under its framework document. I have asked the chief executive to write to the hon. Member.
Letter from Captain D. Symonds, Royal Navy, to Dr. David Clark dated 7 December 1993:
In response to your Parliamentary Question to the Secretary of State for Defence concerning the weighted number of allied Quality Assurance publication Non-conformances by the Naval Aircraft Repair Organisation Defence Agency (NARO DA) in 1992–93:The weighted number of allied Quality Assurance publication non-conformance by the NARO DA in 1992–93 was:
Number Fleetlands 548 Almondbank 124 NARO Total 672 The ratio of weighted non-conformances per audit showed a 19.6 per cent. improvement over the year in 1992–93.
§ Dr. David ClarkTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence what policy developments have occurred in respect of defence support agencies in the last two years; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. HanleyIn 1992 the Department conducted an internal review of next steps in the Ministry of Defence. Four main conclusions were reached: that greater attention needed to be paid to the Department's ownership role vis-a-vis its agencies; that programmes of training and education needed to be developed; that reviews for agency status should place much greater emphasis on strategic and management planning; and that resources should be provided for the development of agency accounting and management information systems.
Action has been taken or is in train under each of these headings. In addition, it was decided that the distinction 288W formerly drawn between executive agencies in defence and defence support agencies had become counterproductive as it meant that agencies were viewed as falling into one or the other and as defence support agencies report to the Secretary of State through military or management channels of command rather than directly, this led to the retention of unnecessary central control. Accordingly, all next steps agencies in defence are known as defence agencies.
§ Dr. David ClarkTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will provide details of all of the penalties that he has imposed on defence support agencies for non-performance in each of the last two years.
§ Mr. HanleyEach year all the defence agencies are set clear and challenging key targets. They are required to demonstrate their performance against targets in their annual report. In the assessment of performance and setting of revised targets a judgment is made by agency owners as to whether the targets set for the previous year have been too demanding or not challenging enough. The question of imposing penalties has not arisen.