HC Deb 19 May 1998 vol 312 cc322-3W
Mr. Alexander

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the outcome of the Quinquennial Review of the Defence Analytical Services Agency; and what key targets have been set for the Agency for 1998–99. [43074]

Dr. Reid

The Defence Analytical Services Agency (DASA) was set up in 1992 and the Quinquennial Review of the Agency has now been completed. The Evaluation Phase of this Review concluded that the Agency had made remarkable strides in a short time, had succeeded in providing its customers with an improved standard of service and was well positioned to take advantage of the gains made in its first five years. I am placing a copy of this Report in the Library of the House.

The Prior Options Phase of the Review concluded that the status of DASA as a Defence Agency should be extended for a further five years and that ownership of the Agency should be exercised by the Department's Principal Finance Officer. These recommendations have been accepted. A revised Framework Document for the Agency is being prepared and a copy of this will be placed in the Library of the House in due course.

The following key performance targets have been set for DASA for 1998–99.

  1. 1. To meet at least 95% of the targets set in Service Level Agreements and Project Agreements.
  2. 2. To have at least 90% of customers saying they are at least satisfied with the timeliness, quality of work and helpfulness of staff in the annual Customer Satisfaction Survey covering all aspects of the business.
  3. 3. To have at least 25% of customers who received DASA services in 1997–98 and 1998–99 report an improvement in DASA's services provided in the annual Customer Satisfaction Survey.
  4. 4. Within existing resources, to make "UK Defence Statistics" and other related corporate information available via electronic dissemination within the Department.
  5. 5. To deliver efficiency gains of 2.5% of the Agency's initial running cost allocation.