HC Deb 09 July 2003 vol 408 cc792-3W
Gregory Barker

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will list the performance targets that(a) her Department, (b) its agencies and (c) non-departmental public bodies are required to meet; and if she will specify for each target (i) who sets it and (ii) who monitors achievement against it. [120885]

Ms Hewitt

Key performance targets for the Department of Trade and Industry are agreed as part of the Spending Review. The latest set were published in "Spending Review 2002: Public Service Agreements 2003–06" (Cm 5571). Progress towards these targets is monitored by the Department together with HM Treasury and the Prime Minister's Delivery Unit and is reported on regularly in DTI's annual Departmental Report (Cm 5916) and Autumn Performance Report (Cm 5731).

The Departmental Report also sets out and reports on the key targets for DTI's seven Executive Agencies (Companies House, Patent Office, Insolvency Service, Employment Tribunal Service, National Weight and Measures Laboratory, Radiocommunications Agency and Small Business Service). These are agreed and set by the responsible Ministers each year in the context of discussion and agreement to the agency's corporate plan. Performance against the agencies' targets is monitored by their steering boards, which include independent members and Departmental representatives, and reported annually to Ministers.

Information on the targets for DTI's Executive non-departmental public bodies is set out as follows for each body.

Body Available information
British Hallmarking Council Hallmarking Act 1973
Coal Authority Corporate Plan available on website (www.coal.gov.uk)
Competition Commission Indicators and targets to be developed to reflect new functions introduced by the Enterprise Act
Consumer Council for Postal Services (Postwatch) Annual Report and Forward Work Programme available on website (www.postwatch.co.uk)
Design Council Four targets in unpublished corporate plan:
To demonstrate through innovative, practical projects the value of effective design
To provide world-leading knowledge on effective design
To communicate the value of effective design to decision makers within business and the public sector
To pursue excellence in our people, processes and premises
Equal Opportunities Commission Corporate Plan available on website (www.eoc.org.uk)
Gas and Electricity Consumer Council (Energywatch) Forward Work Programme available on website (www.energywatch.org.uk)
Hearing Aid Council Reclassified as an executive NDPB on 1 April 2003. Targets are under discussion and will be published on HAC's website (www.thehearingaidcouncil.org.uk) once agreed
National Consumer Council Targets published in annual report
Regional Development Agencies Targets published on website (www.dti.gov.uk/rda/info)
Research Councils Targets contained in Councils' Operating Plans, which will be placed on their websites once finalised in late summer
Simpler Trade Procedures Board (SITPRO) Performance targets not set
UK Atomic Energy Authority (UKAEA) Corporate Plan available on website (www.ukaea.org.uk)

The Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service (ACAS) is statutorily independent. Its targets, which are not set by Ministers, are available on www.acas.org.uk.