HC Deb 26 February 2002 vol 380 cc1136-7W
Mr. Russell Brown

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what performance targets have been set for the Defence Bills Agency for the financial year 2002–03. [38467]

Dr. Moonie

Targets have been set for the Defence Bills Agency for the financial year 2002–03 in accordance with the agency's Service Level Agreement with the Ministry of Defence. The key targets build on the already high standards of service provided by the agency since its formation in 1996 and are as follows:

  1. (a) To make a progressive reduction in the unit costs of output for bills and invoices of 10 per cent. and 5 per cent. respectively by March 2003 over the target set for 2001–02.
    2. 1137W
  2. (b) Produce accounting and financial information to the ISO 9001–2000 quality standard and to the times set out at Annexes B and C of the Service Level Agreement.
  3. (c) To pay 100 per cent. of correctly presented bills within 11 calendar days of receipt as part of the Department's 30-day payment target.
  4. (d) To raise 97 per cent. of invoices accurately within four days of receipt of a correctly authorised claimable document.
  5. (e) Within the permitted tolerances, meet the performance targets prescribed at Annexe B of the Service Level Agreement.
  6. (f) To make a progressive improvement of at least 1 per cent. in the overall level of customer satisfaction over the target set for 2001–02.