HC Deb 14 June 1994 vol 244 cc510-1W
Mrs. Dunwoody

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what are the efficiency targets set for each executive agency within this Department for the next two years.

Mr. MacGregor

My reply of 29 AprilOfficial Report, column 385 and that of my hon. Friend the Minister for Roads and Traffic of 12 April, Official Report, column 83, set out the key targets, including efficiency targets, which I have set the executive agencies in my Department for the year 1994–95. I have also set the Department, including the agencies, a requirement to make a 20 per cent. improvement in efficiency with the target of achieving it over the two years beginning 1 April 1994.

Mrs. Dunwoody

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what efficiency savings his Department will make this financial year; and what are the Department's efficiency savings targets for the next financial year.

Mr. John MacGregor

As I explained in my reply of 9 May to the hon. Member,Official Report, column 58, I have set my Department the requirement that it deliver a 20 per cent. efficiency saving and the target of securing this by 31 March 1996. Plans for delivering this saving are still being formulated. It is, therefore, too early to say how much of the saving will be achieved in 1994–95 and how much in 1995–96. It is not my intention to set separate targets for the two financial years.

Mrs. Dunwoody

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether any Vehicle Inspectorate testing stations will be closed because of the Department's target of 20 per cent. efficiency savings over the next two years.

Mr. Robert Key

There are no plans for closures of the Vehicle Inspectorate's testing stations. The network will be kept under review in the light of customer demand and the availability of suitable alternative facilities. Proposals for achieving the 20 per cent. efficiency savings required by my right hon. Friend have yet to be determined and considered by Ministers.

Mrs. Dunwoody

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether any driving test centres in addition to the 22 test centre closures recently announced will be closed as a result of the Department's target to make 20 per cent. efficiency savings over the next two years.

Mr. Key

My right hon. Friend announced on 9 May that he was requiring the Department to make an efficiency gain of 20 per cent. with the target of achieving it over the next two years. The chief executive of the Driving Standards Agency has been asked to submit proposals to meet this remit, and my right hon. Friend will be considering these in due course. No decisions have been reached.