HC Deb 23 June 1997 vol 296 c356W
Mr. Pickthall

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what performance targets have been set for the Pay and Personnel Agency for 1997–98. [4917]

Mr. Spellar

The Chief Executive of the Pay and Personnel Agency (PPA) is responsible for providing pay and personnel services for the Ministry of Defence as defined in the Agency Framework Document. During 1997-98, the PPA will be set the following challenging key performance targets:

  1. 1.
    1. (a) While making 100 per cent. of payments of pay by the due date, the number of errors not to exceed 12 per 1,000 payments of weekly industrial pay.
    2. (b) While making 100 per cent. of payments of pay by the due date, the number of errors not to exceed six per 1,000 payments of monthly non-industrial pay.
    3. (c) While authorising 100 per cent. of awards of pensions by the due date, the number of errors not to exceed 20 per 1,000 awards.
    4. (d) While making 100 per cent. of payments of expenses within 10 working days of receipts, the number of errors not to exceed 15 per 1,000 payments.
    5. (e) To pay 100 per cent. of claims for fees and personal payments within nine working days of receipt.
  2. 2. By 31 August 1997 to introduce methods of measuring how well its services meet the customers' needs, building on the findings of the customer satisfaction study report completed in December 1996.
  3. 3. By 31 March 1998 to achieve efficiency savings to meet at least the Departmental target of 2 per cent. efficiency savings of annual operating costs.
  4. 4. To publish by 31 March 1998 a business case setting out the options available from potential private sector partners, in comparison with the cost of providing services from agency resources.
  5. 5. By 31 March 1998 to introduce a new personnel information system.