§ Mr. Tim SmithTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what specific financial, efficiency and quality of service targets he has approved for the QEII Conference Centre Agency for the current year and for the longer term.
§ Mr. Chris Patten[holding answer 15 January 1990]: Financial targets presently approved for the Queen Elizabeth II conference centre are to achieve an operating surplus of £53,000 in 1989–90, £200,000 in 1990–91 and £320,000 in 1991–92 before interest, depreciation and rate charges are levied. Targets covering the period up to 1994–95 will be set when the five-year corporate plan is approved later this year.
The centre's efficiency will be measured broadly by the extent of increases in its occupancy level. This currently stands at 56 per cent. and specific targets will be set within the corporate plan.
No specific quality of service target has yet been set but one of the centre's fundamental objectives is continually to improve the standards of service offered to clients. These are monitored through analysis of both client/delegate questionnaires and the volume of bookings, particularly those representing repeat business.