HC Deb 28 March 1994 vol 240 cc484-5W
Mr. Dunn

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what further progress he has made in transferring the executive functions of his Department to agency status; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. MacGregor

I am establishing three further executive agencies in my Department with effect from 1 April: the Highways Agency, the Coastguard Agency and the Marine Safety Agency. I have set clear aims and objectives for each of the agencies and I am placing clear responsibility for the management of the agencies on their chief executives. I will look to the chief executives for improvements in efficiency and effectiveness and in the quality of the services the agencies provide. The aims and objectives of each agency and the chief executives' reponsibilities are set out in the agencies' framework documents; copies of which will be placed in the Library when published.

Each year, I shall set these agencies demanding efficiency and service targets, which will be published in annual business plans. The agencies will also publish annual reports; again, copies of these, and the business plans for 1994–95, will be placed in the Library.

The Highways Agency has some 2,400 staff, and has a headquarters office in London. The agency will be responsible for managing and maintaining the existing motorway and trunk road network in England and for delivering the Government's road programme. I believe that the increased focus on managing the network as a whole, which is reflected in the agency's aim and objectives and in the targets in the road users charter and charter standard statement—"Your Home and Trunk Road Proposals"—which I will publish shortly, will result in a better quality of service for users of the trunk road network and those who are affected by traffic on it and improvements to it. Following an open competition, I have appointed Mrs. Lawrie Haynes, formerly with British Aerospace, to be the agency's first chief executive.

The Coastguard Agency has some 580 staff, the large majority of whom are uniformed coastguard officers, and has its headquarters in Southampton. The agency will be responsible for discharging the Government's responsibilities for civil maritime search and rescue and combating oil and chemical pollution from ships where there is a threat to United Kingdom interests. Following an open competition, I have appointed Mr. Chris Harris, formerly director of the Department's marine emergencies organisation, to be the agency's first chief executive.

The Marine Safety Agency has some 410 staff, and has its headquarters in Southampton. The agency will be responsible for implementing the Government's strategy for marine safety and the prevention of pollution from ships. Following an open competition, I have appointed Mr. Robin Bradley, formerly a serving Royal Navy officer, to be the agency's first chief executive.

I wish the chief executives and their staffs every success for the future. I am confident that these new arrangements will enable them to provide yet further improvements in the services they provide while giving better value for money.

Where right hon. or hon. Members have queries about matters relating to the operation of the agencies, I hope they will write in the first instance to the chief executives, I and my hon. Friends the Ministers for Roads and Traffic and for Transport in London and my noble Friend the Minister for Aviation and Shipping will continue to deal with questions of policy and resources, or where there is dissatisfaction with an agency's reply.

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