HC Deb 17 May 1995 vol 260 cc290-1W
Mr. Atkinson

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what performance targets he has set for the UK Passport Agency in 1995–96. [25185]

Mr. Nicholas Baker

During 1995–96 I shall expect the Passport Agency to continue to improve its standard of service to the public while seeking further efficiency savings in its operations.

I have set the agency the following targets:

  1. (i) to process properly completed straightforward applications within a maximum of 15 working days between April and August 1995, 10 working days between September and February 1996 and 15 working days in March 1996.
  2. (ii) to process such applications within an overall average of seven working days for the year as a whole, and
  3. (iii) to reduce unit costs by a further 5 per cent, in real terms in comparison with the outturn for 1994–95.

The chief executive will remain directly accountable to me for the performance of the Passport Agency. An advisory board, including two private sector members with experience of delivering services to the public, will continue to provide me with an independent assessment of the agency's performance.