HC Deb 06 March 2000 vol 345 cc492-3W
Mr. Menzies Campbell

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list(a) those targets of the RAF Logistic Support Services for 1998–99 which (i) were and (ii) were not achieved, giving the factors affecting the outcome in each case and (b) action taken by the agency to improve target achievement performance in 1999–2000; and if he will make a statement. [111757]

Dr. Moonie

This is a matter for the Chief Executive of the Logistics Support Services Agency. I have asked the Chief Executive to write to the right hon. and learned Member.

Letter from K. A. Bradshaw to Mr. Menzies Campbell, dated 6 March 2000: Parliamentary questions from the right hon. Menzies Campbell CBE QC MP (Liberal Democrats) (Fife North East) concerning the achievement of logistics support services agency key targets: I am replying to your Question to the Secretary of State for Defence about achievement of Logistics Support Services Agency (LSSA) key targets as the matter falls within my area of responsibility. I have numbered the replies to match your questions.

  1. a. LSSA targets
    1. (1) Achieved:
Percentage
1998–99
Serial Key target from LSSA corporate plan Target Outturn
1. To produce deliverables by the target date agreed with the sponsor 85 89
2. To deliver outputs at the cost agreed with the sponsor 80 81
3. To produce deliverables to the sponsor's complete satisfaction 90 97

This year was the first that pan-agency performance targets were set. As we had no knowledge of what was achievable, the targets were tentative. Nevertheless, the targets at serials 1 to 3 were all achieved.

(2) Not Achieved

Percentage
1998–99
Serial Key target from LSSA corporate plan Target Outturn
4. To achieve a reduction in the cost of a productive hour 3 See below

It was not possible to ascertain the reduction in the cost of a productive hour in 1998–99 because there was no agency-wide system available to record man-hours. Although the LSSA Task and Resource Accounting Management (TRAMS) System was introduced to perform this function, its roll out was delayed by technical problems.

b. Action taken:

The targets for 1999–2000 in the Corporate Plan, which has been placed in the library of the House, remained the same as those for 1989–1999. This was recognition of the immaturity of our target setting. However, the 2000–2001 targets had been made more challenging as follows: serial 1–90%, serial 2–85%, serial 392%. The target for serial 4 remained unaltered at 3%. However, TRAMS is now is use in the majority of LSS business areas and the data recorded during 1999–2000 will establish a productive hour baseline for future years.