Defence Analytical Services Agency (Hansard, 7 March 2000)

§ Dr. Moonie

[holding answer 6 March 2000]This is a matter for the Chief Executive of the Defence Analytical Services Agency. I have asked the Chief Executive to write to the "right" hon. and learned Member.

Letter from C. Youngson to Mr. Menzies Campbell, dated 7 March 2000: I am replying to your question to the Under Secretary of State for Defence asking for the target performances of the Defence Analytical Services Agency for 1998–99 and improved target achievement performance in 1999–2000. As Chief Executive this falls within my area of responsibility. The 1998–1999 Key Targets for the Defence Analytical Services Agency were announced to Parliament by the then Minister for the Armed Forces on 19 May 1998 (Official Report, Column 330). As reported in the Agency's Annual Report and Accounts for 1998–1999, which were laid before Parliament and placed in the House of Commons Library on 26 July 1999 (Ref HC 700), all these Key Targets were met. For your information, I attach copies of the relevant pages of the Report. The Agency's Key Targets for 1999–2000 were also set out in the Annual Report and Accounts for 1998–1999 and announced to Parliament by the then Minister for the Armed Forces on 9 June 1999 (Official Report, Columns 322–333). The Agency's Owner, the Principal Finance Officer for the Ministry of Defence, sets these targets each year with the help of his Advisory Board, made up of all the Agency's major customers and members from outside the Ministry of Defence with a thorough understanding of the Agency's business. The Advisory Board agreed that the targets for 1999–2000 were an extremely challenging measure of business success. The Agency uses the Business Excellence Model to help ensure continuous improvement in all aspects of its business. I hope you find this reply helpful.