HC Deb 09 June 1993 vol 226 cc263-4W
Mr. Congdon

To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will make a statement on the plans for the NHS Estates executive agency.

Mr. Sackville

We are pleased to report that the National Health Service Estates Management and Health Building Agency (NHS Estates) has had a successful year as an executive agency of this Department. We have agreed the agency's 1993–96 three-year corporate plan and the annual business plan. Targets for 1993–94 are to:

  1. (i)Deliver all products and services on time and within cost.
  2. (ii) Review with customers the quality of services provided, frequency and style depending on the nature of the contract terms.
  3. (iii) increase revenues from the NHS and private sector to 67 per cent. of the cost of services purchased. (100 per cent. in 1995–96).
  4. (iv) increase income from United Kingdom consultancy services by 5 per cent. to £640,000.
  5. (v) Untie £725,000 of Agency resources to the NHS (market test) and recover through sales. (Total £1.2 million now, £2.4 million 1995–96).
  6. (vi) Achieve BS5750 quality assurance accreditation by 31 March 1994.
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  7. (vii) Explore the scope for market testing functions carried out on behalf of the NHS Management Executive by 30 September 1993.
  8. (viii) Keep within agreed Public Expenditure Survey baselines and additionally make 4 per cent. (£400,000) efficiency savings on the running costs element.
  9. (ix) Complete relocation of new headquarters to Leeds, saving £1.1 million per annum.
  10. (x) Co-ordinate an induction and training programme for all staff (75 per cent. of agency staff are new personnel). This will be ongoing and will be incorporated in the appraisal programme.
  11. (xi) Develop an overall measure of efficiency based on a cost weighted activity index by 1995–96.