§ Sir Peter HordernTo ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what plans he has for the future of the Paymaster General's Office; and what key targets have been set for 1993–94.
§ Sir John CopeThe Paymaster General's Office will become a next steps agency with effect from 1 April 1993. Copies of the Paymaster General's office framework document and abridged versions of the corporate and business plans have been placed in the Libraries of both Houses.
I have set the Paymaster General's Office the following key targets for 1993–94:
1. Meeting customers' requirements1.1 Respond to 85 per cent. of pensions correspondence and process associated amendments within five working days of receipt and the remainder within 20 working days of receipt.1.2 Process 98 per cent. of pensions amendments without error.1.3 Meet the banking transaction timetable, agreed with customers, 95 per cent. of the time and never exceed the timetable by more than one day.1.4 Develop a quality indicator for the banking service by 31 March 1994.1.5 Meet the agreed timetable, for sending financial information to the Treasury, 95 per cent. of the time and never exceed the timetable by more than one day.2. Recovery of full costsRecover the full costs of running the agency, except for banking and allied services.3. Reduction in unit costs3.1 Reduce by 1 per cent., over the year, the average unit cost (in real terms) of paying a pension.3.2 Obtain a 1 per cent. improvement, over the year, in the average unit costs index for processing banking transactions.