HC Deb 19 July 1994 vol 247 c195W
Mr. Michael Brown

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what performance targets have been set for the Rate Collection Agency in 1994–95.

Mr. Tim Smith

For 1994–95 the following performance targets have been set for the agency:

  1. 1. To reduce rating debt to 1–76 per cent. of the Gross Collectable Rate excluding late assessments by 31 March 1995.
  2. 2. To achieve a reduction of 2 per cent. in the real value of the direct unit costs of collecting rates per hereditament.
  3. 3. To generate refunds to 97 per cent. of ratepayers so entitled within 14 days of credits being identified.
  4. 4. To process by 31 March 1995 80 per cent. of applications for the incoming year received from existing Housing Benefit recipients before 15 March 1995.
  5. 5. To achieve a reduction of 2 per cent. in the real value of the direct unit costs of processing Housing Benefit cases.
  6. 6. To assess 97 per cent. of Housing Benefit claims free of error.