HC Deb 23 April 1998 vol 310 cc670-1W
Mr. Leslie

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what targets he has set for the Driving Standards Agency. [39489]

Ms Glenda Jackson

The key targets for the Driving Standards Agency are set out in its Business Plan, which include management objectives, performance indicators and key tasks. Copies of the Business Plan have been placed in the Library. The key targets are as followsachieve an average annual return on capital employed (ROCE) on statutory activities of 6% of net assets over the period 1 April 1997 to 31 March 2002; increase the weighted average of fees by no more than RPI in each of the three years during the period 1 April 1997 to 1 April 2000 and by no more than RPI minus 1% in each of the following two years; achieve a national average waiting time for car practical tests not exceeding 6 weeks and make appointments available within 10 weeks at 99% of permanent test centres; aim to keep 99.5% of all practical test appointments which are in place 2 days prior to the appointment date; answer practical test booking office telephones so that: 4 and 5 calls will be answered on their first dialling attempt; 90% of calls will be answered by a human voice within 30 seconds after completion of handling by the automatic answering system; and an average of no more than 4% of calls in the queue will be abandoned before being answered; ensure 95% of theory test candidates obtain a test booking at their preferred test centre and test session within 2 weeks of their preferred date; and

Fatal casualties from fires in buildings, by cause of death, 1995 and 1996 United Kingdom
Number1
Year Total Burns Overcome by gas or smoke Burns and overcome by gas or smoke Physical injuries Shock only Precautionary check up Other specifed Unspecifed
All buildings
1995 599 138 291 112 0 13 0 21 24
1996p2 629 149 315 98 4 1 1 10 51
Dwellings
1995 553 119 276 105 0 11 0 20 22
1996p2 594 134 304 92 4 1 1 10 48
1Includes additional "late" call and heat and smoke damage incidents.
2The figures for 1996 are likely to be revised downwards closer to those for 1995 as later information becomes available.