§ Mr. WillettsTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what performance targets she has set for the Veterinary Medicines Directorate in 1994–95; and if she will make a statement.
§ Mr. SoamesThe chief executive of the Veterinary Medicines Directorate has submitted his proposals to me and I have agreed that the VMD should be set the following performance targets for 1994–95:
- full cost recovery for the three business activities of licensing, policy work and residues monitoring;
- 75 per cent. of new licence applications to be issued within 120 clock days; 95 per cent. within 200 days;
- an overall efficiency gain of 2 per cent.
These are challenging targets which will build on the improvements already made in the efficiency and quality of service provided by the directorate since its establishment as a next steps agency, and for which I commend the chief executive and his staff. In addition, I have agreed the VMD's corporate plan for 1994–95—1996–97, and copies are being placed in the Library of the House and the Public Information Office.