Insolvency Service (Hansard, 3 April 2001)

§ Dr. Howells

The Insolvency Service's planning assumption is that compulsory insolvencies will total 26,500 in the year to 31 March 2002. On that basis and with the resources allocated to it, I have set the following performance targetsTo complete sufficient bankruptcy and compulsory liquidation case administrations so that the number of open current cases at 31 March 2002 are no more than 16,775 cases—that is equivalent to no more than eight months new case input; with no more than 2.5 per cent. of those cases being more than 36 months; to maintain in real terms the unit cost of administering bankruptcy and compulsory liquidation cases over the period 1999–02 at the level of 1998–99, taking account of additional shorter-term cost of its new IT infrastructure and the delivery of improvements in its services to users; 109W to reduce in real terms the unit costs of its investigation of bankruptcy and liquidation cases by 10 per cent. over the period 1999–02, also taking account of the additional shorter-term costs of its new IT; to continue to achieve the level of disqualification proceedings and orders against unfit directors as in 2000–01; to continue to submit reports of criminal misconduct at a level consistent with the Service's investigative case load and resources; to report to creditors on assets and liabilities within eight weeks in at least 98 per cent. of all cases; and within 12 weeks in 99 per cent. of all cases; to hold the initial meetings of creditors within 12 weeks in 97 per cent. of all appropriate cases, and within four months in 99 per cent. of all appropriate cases; to submit disqualification reports within 12 months in at least 65 per cent. of cases and within 15 months in at least 80 per cent. of cases where there is evidence of unfit conduct by directors; to reduce the average time from a company's insolvency to conclusion of disqualification proceedings from 28 months to 26 months; and to increase the percentage of disqualification cases concluded within 30 months from 68 per cent. to 72 per cent; and within 24 months from 42 per cent. to 45 per cent.; and to check and action at least 98 per cent. of Insolvency Service's Account payment requisitions within four days or by the due date.

The Service is expected to action 100 per cent. of invoices for payment within 30 days of receipt and 90 per cent. within 20 days of receipt. The Agency Chief Executive is expected to reply within 10 working days to all letters from Members of Parliament delegated to him for reply.

I have asked Agency Chief Executive to continue to work on the development of outcome based targets for the Service's activities; and to continue to review and to seek to improve its quality of service performance in the light of his experience of its new IT infrastructure and the views of its users.