HC Deb 05 June 1996 vol 278 c484W
Mr. Gallie

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement about the targets he expects the Scottish Record Office to achieve in 1996–97. [31594]

Lord James Douglas-Hamilton

I have set the Scottish Record Office the following key targets for 1996–97:

  • to reduce the unit cost of preserving and making available the records of Scotland by 10 per cent. in real terms;
  • to increase the number of catalogue entries available for public scrutiny on the electronic system by 46,000;
  • to produce material for readers in 92.5 per cent. of cases in 30 minutes or less for material from the same building and in two days or less for material from elsewhere;
  • to answer 85 per cent. of correspondence within 10 days, absorbing up to a 2 per cent. increase in demand; and
  • to publish the "Guide to the Records of Scotland".