§ Mr. McAllionTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will list the quality of service performance indicators adopted by each of his Department's executive agencies since their establishment; and separately identify those quality of service performance indicators already operative prior to agency status.
§ Mr. GummerPrior to its becoming an executive agency the Central Veterinary Laboratory's main quality of service performance indicator was peer assessment by external specialists of its research and development; since it achieved agency status the laboratory has continued with the peer review of its R and D, achieved National Measurement Accreditation Service (NAMAS) accreditation and is good laboratory practice (GLP) compliant.
The laboratory also participates in the standardisation programmes and international collaborative assays organised by the World Health Organisation, the International Association of Biological Standardisation and the EC.
The Intervention Board is a separate Department under the European Communities Act 1972. Its quality of service indicators for 1990–91 and 1991–92 are:
- Percentage of external trade claims processed within deadlines
- Percentage of external trade claims processed correctly
- Percentage of payments to storekeepers of intervention stock made within 28 days
- Percentage of intervention stock disposed of other than under EC schemes because of deterioration in quality
- Percentage of non intervention internal market schemes for which regulatory payment periods are fully met
- Percentage of UK accounts submitted within deadline
- Percentage of EC accounts submitted within deadline
- Percentage of accounts revised after submission
- Percentage of guarantee applications dealt with inside 10 days.
All these indicators were in existence in some form prior to agency status, but they have been refined and improved. The agency's targets and performance in 1990–91 have been published in its annual report.
The quality of service indicators have been revised for 1992–93 and will be:
- Percentage of all claims processed within deadline. Percentage of all claims processed correctly.
- Percentage of intervention stock disposed of other than under EC schemes because of deterioration in quality.
- Percentage of EC accounts submitted within deadline.
- Percentage of United Kingdom accounts submitted within deadline.
- Percentage of accounts revised after submission.
In answer to a question by my hon. Friend, the Member for Corby, on 16 April 1991 at column 143, I announced the 1991–92 targets for the veterinary medicines directorate. The quality of service performance indicator 591W included in those targets is for 100 per cent. of new licence applications to be issued within 120 clock days. This was operative prior to agency status.
§ Mr. McAllionTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is the maximum salary payable to the chief executive of each of his Department's executive agencies, including performance-related element, and the length of time of the chief executive's contract in each case.
§ Mr. GummerThe chief executive of the Central Veterinary Laboratory receives the standard civil service pay for grade 3, and is subject to standard civil service terms and conditions including eligibility for performance pay. His contract is for four years.
The appointment of the chief executive of the Intervention Board, which is a separate Department under the European Communities Act 1972, is for three years ending in October 1992. He is paid standard civil service pay at grade 3 plus one discretionary increment under the standard civil service performance pay arrangements gained before his present appointment. He does not participate in civil service performance pay but is eligible for a performance bonus linked to the achievement of predetermined efficiency and quality of service targets, of up to 12.5 per cent. of his salary at the end of the financial year. The maximum payable for 1991–92 would therefore be £52,899.
The chief executive of the veterinary medicines directorate was appointed as director in April 1989 for a period of four years. He is employed as a grade 4 with standard civil service pay, terms and conditions of service and is eligible for performance related pay.
§ Mr. McAllionTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (1) when the last annual report for each of his Department's executive agencies was published; and when the next one is due;
(2) if he will list the post, grade and maximum salary payable, including performance-related element, in each case where appointments from the private sector have been made to his Department's executive agencies at grade 7 or above, since their establishment;
(3) if he will list those new facilities for staff including nurseries and health care schemes which have been introduced in each of his Department's executive agencies since their establishment;
(4) if he will list the new forms of alternative working patterns introduced into each of his Department's executive agencies since their establishment and provide a break-down by grade of the numbers of staff taking up each new working pattern for each new agency;
(5) what was the first degree obtained by the chief executive of each of his Department's executive agencies; and from which university or polytechnic it was awarded;
(6) whether a group bonus scheme is in operation in each of his Department's executive agencies;
(7) how many staff were in post on the date that each of his Department's executive agencies was established; and how many staff are in post now in each case.
§ Mr. GummerThis is a matter for the chief executives of the appropriate agencies and they will be writing to the hon. Member shortly.
§ Mr. McAllionTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how much was spent on events and592W publicity surrounding the launch of each of his Department's executive agencies; and whether the cost was borne by the parent department or the new agency.
§ Mr. GummerThe cost of events and publicity surrounding the launch of the Central Veterinary Laboratory as an executive agency was £28,163 of which £25,000 was borne by my Department.
The amount spent by the Intervention Board on events and publicity surrounding its launch as an agency was £8,520. The cost was borne by the agency, which is a separate Department under the European Communities Act 1972.
The cost of events and publicity surrounding the launch of the veterinary medicines directorate as an executive agency was £13,088. This was borne by my Department.