HC Deb 21 May 1998 vol 312 cc475-7W
Mr. Pond

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what changes were made to the performance targets for 1997–98 announced on 17 June 1997 for the Northern Ireland Health and Social Services Estates Agency; and what performance targets have been set for 1998–99. [43346]

Marjorie Mowlam

Modifications to some of the 1997/98 targets for the Northern Ireland Health and Social Services Estates agency were deemed appropriate after due consideration of the changes to clients' specifications for services. The modified targets are as follows:

  • Deliver to the Health and Social Services Executive (HSSE) the annual Fire Report on the Health and Personal Social Services (HPSS) estate by March 1998.
  • Complete for HSS Trust clients 8 Outline Business Cases of total estimated capital value £29m.
  • Complete tender process and move to construction stage 4 schemes of estimated capital value £99.24m.
  • Project Manage to completion on site, 11 schemes of estimated total capital value £4.435m.
  • Provide lead Clerks of Works Inspection Services on Craigavon Hospital, Causeway Hospital, Altnagelvin Hospital and the Royal Group of Hospitals on projects valued at £126.35m.
  • Complete an Electricity at Work Regulation compliance survey, and tender a compliance works contract for one Trust hospital site.

The targets which have been set for 1998/99 are in line with the Government's policy of seeking to improve the services provided to clients in terms of both quality and value for money. I am satisfied that the targets present a demanding challenge for the agency. They are as follows:

Delivery of Services Provide the Agency's services in accordance with the requirements of the Service Level Agreements with clients.

Review the Department's fire safety policy documentation for the Health and Personal Social Services and deliver to the HSSE the annual Fire Report on the HPSS estates by March 1999.

Assess and advise the HSSE on 60% of capital investment business case submissions within 20 working days, subject to a maximum of 15 business cases per annum.

provide a report on progress towards meeting Government targets on green issues by March 1999.

Provide the HSSE with a Defects Centre in relation to the HPSS Estate. Investigate and clear 60% of all adverse incidents within 6 months of notification to Health Estates subject to a maximum of 120 adverse incidents per annum.

Complete for HSS Trust clients 5 Outline Business Cases of capital value £11.0m approximately.

Project manage the PFI process for one scheme with estimated capital value £9m.

Complete planning and design team briefing for 3 schemes with estimated capital value £33m.

Complete the tendering process and move to on-site construction stage for 2 schemes with total value £1.2m.

Project manage to completion 6 schemes with total capital value £9m approximately.

Project manage during construction 4 schemes for which final completion dates fall outside the year (total capital value £126m approximately).

Complete architectural design or manage clients contracts to achieve Practical Completion of up to 15 schemes (value £4.5m approximately).

Issue Completion of Defects Certificates for 65% of clients schemes within 6 months of Defects Lists being provided to contractor, and for 90% within a further 6 months.

Issue Final Certificates within 3 months of the issue of Making Good Defects Certificates on 60% of architect led contracts, the remaining certificates to be issued within a further 12 months (except where there are outstanding contact matters or other legal process).

Complete 80% of periodic specialist sterilise equipment tests and environmental tests by the programmed dates and the remainder within 7 weeks of that date subject to a maximum client request for this service of 465 man days.

Complete 75% of diagnostic equipment and laboratory equipment acceptance tests, and other tests within 6 weeks of receipt of written request and the remainder within 10 weeks.

Complete 75% of the initial evaluations for Electro-medical Equipment Projects within 6 weeks of receipt of written request and the remainder within 10 weeks. Complete Electro-medical Equipment Projects within 10 months of clients providing their instruction to proceed.

Undertake a review of one third of the plans in place for High Voltage, Low Voltage and Medical Gas Pipelines Systems in the HPSS.

Financial Management and Efficiency To operate the Agency within its 1998/99 funding allocation and in doing so ensure its 3 year rolling efficiency programme delivers average annual savings at least equivalent to pay and price increases.

Ensure that the Agency's financial accounting and information systems are adequate to support the preparation of auditable accounts for 1998/99.

A copy of the targets is being placed in the Library of the House.