HC Deb 19 July 1996 vol 281 cc702-4W
Mr. Waterson

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what progress his Department has made in meeting service delivery targets set out in "Commitment to Service". [39008]

Mr. Douglas Hogg

The table sets out the performance achieved by regional service centres against the targets set in "Commitment to Service", second edition.

RSC performance data (percentage) for financial year 1995–96 unless otherwise specified
Total1
Arable area payments scheme2 Payments 86
Beef special premium scheme3 Advance payments (1994) 97
Balance payments (1994) 99
Applications (1995) CID return 99
Claims (1995) CID Return 99
Suckler cow premium scheme Balance payments 1994 99
Advance payments 1995 99
Hill livestock compensatory allowances4 Claims 1995 83
Sheep annual premium scheme5 Claims marketing year 1995 99
Agricultural improvement scheme Plan claims 94
Environmentally sensitive areas Applications 99
Claims 99
Environmentally sensitive areas conservation plan Applications 97
Claims 96
Farm and conservation grant scheme 1989 Plan claims 99
Non plan claims 99
Farm and conservation grant scheme 1991 Plan applications 100
Plan claims 99
Farm diversification grant scheme (capital items) Claims 100
Farm diversification grant scheme (feasibility and marketing) Claims 100
Farm woodland premium scheme Applications 96
Claims 99
Injurious weeds Complaints 99
Pilot nitrate sensitive areas scheme Claims 100
Nitrate sensitive areas scheme Applications 96
Claims 99
Protection of Badgers Act 1992 Licence applications 93
Five year set aside scheme Claims 100
Short-term lettings Applications 95
Strychnine permits Applications 99
Agricultural wages Complaints 100
RSC performance data (percentage) for financial year 1995–96 unless otherwise specified
Total1
Wildlife and Countryside Act Applications 95
Correspondence 95
Nine complaints were received by the MAFF adjudicator, all of which were resolved.
1 The total percentage has been calculated by setting the entire number of applications or claims cleared within the target time against the total number received. Applications and claims not cleared due to reasons beyond our control—such as incorrect information supplied by applicant—are not included as failures to meet target.
1 The total percentage has been calculated by setting the entire number of applications or claims cleared within the target time against the total number received. Applications and claims not cleared due to reasons beyond our control—such as incorrect information supplied by applicant—are not included as failures to meet target.
2 The failures resulted from unforeseen administrative complexities in checking all claims to the exacting standards required under the integrated administration and control system—IACS—rules.
3 The period covered is January to December 1995.
4 The period covered is November 1994 to June 1995. The high number of failures was due to the payment round being initially delayed due to the regulation coming into force later than usual and because of problems with the digitisation of less favoured area land from 1994 IACS records which required the manual checking of over 35,000 individual fields.
5 Final payments made by 30 April 1996.