HC Deb 05 June 1996 vol 278 cc456-7W
Mr. Dunn

To ask the President of the Board of Trade what targets he has set his Department's Radiocommunications Agency for 1996–97. [31799]

Mr. Lang

I have set my Department's Radiocommunications Agency the following quality of service targets for 1996–97 in respect of its licensing work and enforcement activities. These are in addition to achieving an overall efficiency improvement of 6 per cent. over 1995–96 and to continue to recover the full costs of its activities from customers.

Licensing Category A: Licences that involve no frequency assignment, site clearance or international co-ordination; 100 per cent. of applications and amendments to be processed and despatched within five working days. Category B: Licences that involve frequency assignment but no site clearance or international co-ordination; 90 per cent. of applications and amendments to be processed and despatched within 15 working days, with the remainder to be processed and despatched within 25 working days or an explanation for the delay provided to the applicant. Category C: Licences that require frequency assignment and site clearance and/or international co-ordination, 90 per cent. of applicationsand amendments to be processed and despatched within 40 working days and the remainffder to be processed and despatched within 60 working days or an explanation for the delay provided to the applicant. Category D: Renewals of all licences in category A to be processed and despatched within 5 working days, renewals of licences in categories B and C to be processed and despatched within 10 working days.

Enforcement

  • 100 per cent. of safety of life services complaints to be investigated within 24 hours;
  • 98 per cent. of business complaints to be investigated within five days;
  • 98 per cent. of domestic interference complaints to be investigated within one month.

I also expect the agency's enquiry point to improve its response rate to calls within 30 seconds to 92 per cent. and for 95 per cent. and for 95 per cent. of all invoices to be paid within 30 days, or within the timescale agreed with suppliers. In addition, the chief executive will continue to reply within 10 working days to all letters from Members of Parliament delegated to him for reply.