§ Mr. Quentin DaviesTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what performance targets he has set for the Veterinary Medicines Directorate in 1992–93; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. GummerThe chief executive of the Veterinary Medicines Directorate—VMD—has submitted his proposals to me and I have agreed that the VMD should be set the following performance targets for 1992–93:
- full cost recovery for the three business activities of licensing, policy work and residues monitoring;
- 100 per cent. of new licence applications to be issued within 210 clock days; 80 per cent. within 120 days;
- an overall efficiency gain of 2 per cent.
These are challenging targets, which will build on the improvements already made in efficiency and quality of service by the directorate since its establishment as a next steps agency, and for which I commend the chief executive and his staff. In addition, I have agreed with the chief executive that the VMD's corporate plan 1992–93 to 1994–95 should be published. Copies are being placed in the Library of the House.