HC Deb 27 March 1991 vol 188 c439W
Mr. Bill Walker

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement about his plans to establish the Scottish fisheries enforcement services as a "next steps" agency.

Mr. Lang

I informed the House on 28 February of my intention to establish the Scottish Fisheries Protection Agency as an executive agency on 1 April 1991. My noble Friend will preside at a launch ceremony on 12 April.

For the 1991–92 financial year I have set the agency the following targets:

Targets
Aerial surveillance—per cent, of hours flown on task 78 per cent.
Cost per aircraft sighting £137
Marine surveillance—number of boardings at sea 2,750
Marine surveillance—cost per boarding £2,263
Sea Fisheries Inspectorate—cost per £1 million of fish landed £4,838
50 per cent, of cases for prosecution to be reported within 4 weeks of offence taking place and 90 per cent, within 6 weeks
Number of cases where court proceedings are taken as percentage of offences reported for prosecution 75 per cent.

In order to ensure that the Scottish Fisheries Protection Agency uses its resources efficiently, I have set it a target to achieve cash-releasing efficiency gains of at least 1.5 per cent. and its running cost limit for 1991–92 has been set on that basis.

The agency chief executive will be directly accountable to me for the agency's achievements of these targets, which will be reported in the agency's published annual report.

I will place a copy of the agency's framework document in the Libraries of both Houses.