HC Deb 13 March 2000 vol 346 cc39-40W
Mr. Menzies Campbell

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list(a) those targets of the Armed Forces Personnel Administration Agency 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. [111765]

Dr. Moonie

[holding answer 6 March 2000]: This is a matter for the Chief Executive of the Armed Forces Personnel Administration Agency. I have asked the Chief Executive to write to the right hon. and learned Member.

Letter from Terence S. Lord to Mr. Menzies Campbell, dated 13 March 2000: I am writing in response to your request to the Secretary of State for Defence for information with regard to AFPAA targets which were not achieved for 1998–1999 and the action taken to improve target achievement performance for 1999–2000. As Chief Executive of the Armed Forces Personnel Agency (AFPAA), I have been asked to reply. The information requested is contained in the AFPAA Annual Report (HC631) under the section entitled 'Performance against Key Targets 1998–1999', a copy of which is in the Library of the House. For ease of reference, a copy of the aforementioned section of the Annual Report is attached. You will note that the Agency achieved all its key/milestone targets (in most cases exceeding 1998–1999 performance targets and achieving those set for 1999–2000), except the formulation of a plan to validate the completeness and accuracy of military records of service and subsequently to introduce sample validation, which was only partially achieved. The validation of personnel records is a necessary precursor to the introduction of the new pay system for the Armed Forces, which is now due for delivery by 1 April 2001, and the creation of a tri-Service Corporate Personnel Database (CPD). While plans were formulated and detailed discussions were held with the Agency's customers (the Service Principal Personnel Officers), the sampling methods necessary to enable the checks to be carried out were not completed to original targets. The proliferation of single-Service legacy systems (those inherited on the formation of the Agency) rendered the validation task and the introduction of appropriate sampling methods far more complex than had been originally forecast. Consequently, this work has been carried forward into the current Financial Year. As you might imagine, this is a high priority for AFPAA at the moment and plans are being addressed with both our customers and our private partner, Electronic Data Systems (Defence) Limited, with the intention of completing the initial data cleansing later this year, and thereafter introducing a programme of rolling data validation. I hope that this information is useful to you.