§ Mr. DunnTo ask the President of the Board of Trade what targets he has set his Department's National Weights and Measures Laboratory for 1996–97. [31800]
§ Mr. LangI have set National Weights and Measures Laboratory the following targets for 1996–97:
- to ensure that external fee-earning activities remain self-financing;
- to reduce the real cost of a programme hour by 1 per cent.;
- to complete 85 per cent. of European type approvals within 10 weeks;
- to complete 95 per cent. of all calibration jobs—including preparation of certificates—within 18 working days.
On moving to net running costs control, I expect NWML to meet its net vote target in 1996–97.
In addition, I expect the chief executive of NWML to continue to reply within 10 working days to all letters from Members of Parliament delegated to him for reply.