§ Baroness Howells of St Davidsasked Her Majesty's Government:
When they will lay before Parliament the annual report for the Forensic Science Service. [HL325]
§ Lord RookerCopies of the Forensic Science Service's annual report and accounts for 2000–01 have today been laid before Parliament.
86WAPerformance against agency targets 2000–01: the Forensic Science Service had eight targets in 2000–01, of which seven were met.
Financial targets: an 11 per cent return on capital employed was produced against a target of 10 to 15 per cent.
A three-year rolling efficiency gain of 9 per cent was achieved against a target of 10 per cent. However, there has been a 10 per cent improvement in efficiency gain in the last two years since trading fund.
Timeliness targets: an average turnaround time of 26 days was achieved against a target of 27 days; this target was rebased from the original target of 24 days to take account of the change in mix of business and work content per job. Ninety-three per cent of agreed delivery dates were achieved against a target of 90 per cent.
A feasibility study on a target to achieve 99 per cent agreed delivery dates on cases classified as urgent or critical was successfully piloted. As a result, an agreement was reached with the Association of Chief Police Officers on the definition of critical cases and procedures implemented to ensure cases submitted are correctly prioritised.
Service level target: three service level agreements, three best value agreements and 27 drugs best value agreements have been put in place with police forces.
Customer satisfaction target: improvements in customer satisfaction have been shown in a pilot of a transactional-based approach. This will be introduced as an agency target next year.
Quality targets: external quality accreditation has been achieved and extended, including achieving the Investors in People award.
Agency targets for 2001–02: the targets for 2001–02, the agency's third year of trading fund, are as follows.
Financial targets: achieve a 10 per cent return on capital employed; achieve a three-year rolling target of a minimum 10 per cent efficiency gain.
Timeliness targets: achieve a 26-day average turnaround time; meet agreed delivery dates in 97 per cent urgent and critical, 100 per cent of persistent young offenders; achieve 93 per cent of agreed delivery dates in all categories.
Service level targets: put in place agreements on levels of service with 90 per cent of police forces.
Customer satisfaction targets: establish a baseline overall measure putting into place routine and robust customer satisfaction measurement processes based on transactional approach and for demonstrating year on year improvements in police (customer) satisfaction; conduct a biennial customer satisfaction survey.
Quality targets: maintain external quality accreditation to International Standards Organisation (ISO) standards; achieve 50 per cent accreditation to the Council for the Registration of Forensic Practitioners in areas which it is registering people.