Non-departmental Public Bodies (Hansard, 7 March 2000)

§ Mr. Ian McCartney

The Government have today published the Executive Non-Departmental Public Bodies 1999 Report, Cm 4657 and the Executive Agencies 1999 Report, CM 4658 which have been laid in both Houses. The Executive Non-Departmental Public Bodies Report brings together performance and trend data on 89 bodies, and the Executive Agencies Report brings together performance and trend data on 104 agencies and two departments operating on agency lines.

The NDPBs Report shows that overall 69 per cent. of targets were achieved and that the number of measurable targets has increased substantially to 82 per cent., a 17 per cent. increase on last year. The Executive Agencies Report shows that overall 75 per cent. of targets were achieved and that the number of measurable targets has increased to 80 per cent., a 2 per cent. increase on last year.

Last March, the Government published the "Modernising Government" White Paper which made a commitment to bring the standard of all public services up to the level of the best so that they deliver what users want in an effective and responsible way. The performance of Executive Agencies and Executive NDPBs, as the main delivery arm of Central Government, is central to achieving this goal.

In raising standards throughout the public sector, the Government aim to build on existing achievements and seek further gains by ensuring the "right" mechanisms are in place to monitor and report the progress of all Agencies and NDPBs.

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In order to achieve sustained improvement, it is essential that these bodies should have measurable targets which are strategic, achievable, relevant to the business and timed; adopt robust customer satisfaction targets; have no more than eight key performance targets that focus on the main objectives of the business and set out more stretching targets that build on previous achievements.

We will be working to achieve this sustained improvement over the coming year.