HC Deb 20 October 1998 vol 317 cc1079-80W
Mr. Pickthall

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what targets he has set for the Royal Parks Agency. [55775]

Mr. Chris Smith

The following targets have been set for the Royal Parks Agency for 1998–99:

Financial and Efficiency To increase receipts by 16 per cent. to £3.3 million from £2.84 million in 1997–98 from permits, fees, licences, events, concessions and car parking.

Achieve a 1.5 per cent. reduction in running costs. Reduce Royal Parks Constabulary hourly costs of a police constable on duty from £22.90 per hour in 1997–98 by 2.5 per cent. to £22.35 in 1998–99.

Visitor satisfaction Maintain an overall quality rating of 86 per cent. from visitors to the parks.

Fabric Review contract documents and specifications and competitively re-tender the grounds maintenance contracts for Regent's Park, St. James's Park, Kensington Gardens and Greenwich Park and award new contracts by December 1998. Maintain an average rating from visitors of at least 85 per cent. on cleanliness in the parks, compared with a target of 82 per cent. in 1997–98. Maintain an average score of 83 per cent. for soft landscape presentation.