§ Ms AthertonTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence what key targets have been set for the Royal Navy's Ships Support Agency for 1997–98. [12460]
§ Mr. SpellarThe Ships Support Agency was launched as an agency in December 1996. It is responsible for directing in-service support of surface ships and submarines and their equipments; for ensuring that proper consideration is given to support issues and marine engineering design requirements in the procurement of 461W new naval platforms; and for the ownership and management of the naval stores inventory, except for fuel and food.
The Ships Support Agency has developed a comprehensive set of performance indicators in conjunction with its owners and customers. These include measures to monitor the quality, timeliness and efficiency of the agency's outputs. The targets which have been agreed, for the period up to March 1998, are:
Performance indicator Targets Materially available vessel days (MAVDs) 62 per cent. 1. To provide the Royal Navy with the agreed percentage of materially available vessel days Pounds per MAVD £55.5K per MVAD 2. To provide the agreed Fleet availability cost-effectively. To introduce a refined pounds per MAVD performance indicator March 1998 3. To introduce a refined pounds per MAVD performance indicator to provide a more robust measurement of the SSA's efficiency Upkeep period timeliness +5 per cent. 4. To deliver upkeep periods within specified tolerances of the agreed programme. Upkeep period costs +/-4 per cent. 5. To contain the cost of programmed upkeep periods within tolerance of the predicted costs. Upkeep material performance March 1998 6. To introduce a performance indicator to quantify material state at the conclusion of upkeep periods. Progress report. Fleet time material performance 4 7. To limit the average number of outstanding Operational Defects per vessel in Fleet Time. 8. To introduce a performance indicator based on the percentage of Fleet Time that vessels are unable for material reasons to carry out their programmed task. March 1998 Efficient stockholding 2.5:1 9. To improve stockholding to issue ratio. Resource accounting 10. To ensure the implementation of the MoD accruals accounting system within the Agency. progress report. March 1998 Through life costs March 1998 11. To create an effective Through Life Cost model. Private sector involvement March 1998 12. To complete a review of the options for further Private Sector Involvement in the support of vessels, equipments and weapons. Progress report.