HL Deb 20 March 1997 vol 579 c103WA
Lord Cochrane of Cults

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What was the performance of the Scottish Agricultural Science Agency against its targets for 1996–97 and the setting of targets for 1997–98.

The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Scottish Office (The Earl of Lindsay)

The agency is on course to meet the key performance targets for 1996–97 which my right honourable Friend, the Secretary of State for Scotland, set out in his Written Answer of 3 April 1996.

For 1997–98 I have set the agency the following key performance targets:

—Fulfilment of the Service Level Agreement with SOAEFD within the running costs allocated to SASA for 1997–98;

—Continuation of the programme of consultation with all customers on the quality of the work done by the Agency;

—Completion of 93 per cent. of all scientific tests and analyses within the timescales set by customers;

—Improvement in the unit cost of the scientific work of the Agency (cost per direct scientist hours);

—Publication of a comprehensive review of the scientific work of the agency 1992–97.