Insolvency Service (Hansard, 19 July 2000)

§ Dr. Howells

The Insolvency Service's planning assumption is that compulsory insolvencies will total 26,500 in the year to 31 March 2001. On that basis and with the resources allocated to it, I have set the following performance targetsTo complete sufficient bankruptcy and compulsory liquidation case administrations so that the number of open current cases at 31 March 2001 are no more than 17,225 cases—that is, equivalent 177W to no more than eight months of new case input; with no more than 5 per cent. of those cases being more than 36 months old; To maintain in real terms the unit cost of administering bankruptcy and compulsory liquidation cases over the period 1999–2002 at the level of 1998–99, taking account of the additional shorter-term costs of its new IT infrastructure and the delivery of improvements in its services to users; To reduce in real terms the unit cost of its investigation of bankruptcy and liquidation cases by 10 per cent. over the period 1999–2002, also taking account of the additional shorter-term costs of its new IT; To continue to achieve the level of disqualification proceedings and orders against unfit directors as in 1999–2000; To continue to submit reports of criminal misconduct at a level consistent with the Service's investigative caseload and resources; To report to creditors on assets and liabilities within eight weeks in at least 97 per cent. of all cases: and within 12 weeks in 98 per cent. of all cases; To hold the initial meetings of creditors within 12 weeks in 96 per cent. of all appropriate cases, and within four months in 98 per cent. of all appropriate cases; To submit reports within 10 months in at least 90 per cent. of bankruptcy cases and at least 80 per cent. of compulsory liquidation cases where there is evidence of criminality; To submit disqualification reports within 12 months in at least 65 per cent. of cases and within 15 months in at least 80 per cent. of cases where there is evidence of unfit conduct by directors; and To check and action at least 97 per cent. of Insolvency Services Account payment requisitions within four days or by the due date.

Service is expected to action 100 per cent. of invoices for payment within 30 days of receipt and the Agency Chief Executive is expected to reply within 10 days to all Members of Parliament delegated to him for reply.

I have asked the Agency Chief Executive to develop for 2001–02 and beyond one or more outcome-based targets for the Service's activities; and to review its quality of service performance in the light of its experience of its new IT infrastructure and the views of its users.