HC Deb 13 March 2000 vol 346 cc41-2W
Mr. Menzies Campbell

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list(a) those targets of the Defence Postal and Courier Services 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. [111754]

Dr. Moonie

[holding answer 6 March 2000]: This is a matter for the Chief Executive of the Defence Postal and Courier Services Agency. I have asked the Chief Executive to write to the right hon. and learned Member.

Letter from B. J. Cash to Mr. Menzies Campbell, dated 13 March 2000: I am replying to your question to the Secretary of State for Defence about those targets of the Defence Postal and Courier Services Agency which were and were not achieved in 1998/99, factors affecting these outcomes and actions taken to improve performance in 1999/2000. This matter falls within my area of responsibility as Chief Executive of the British Forces Post Office, as the Defence Postal and Courtier Services Agency is now named. The Defence Postal and Courier Services Agency was set four Key targets, all of which it achieved.

  1. a. To achieve a 2% improvement in the range of postal and courier services provided.
  2. b. To achieve independent assessment of DPCSA using the British Quality Foundation (BQF) Business Excellence Model (BEM) by 31 Mar 99, to enable subsequent measurement of business improvements.
  3. c. To exceed an average 95.85% satisfaction of Customers' postal and courier requirements.
  4. d. To exceed an average 3% improvement in unit cost per output.
Factors affecting the outcomes were:
  1. a. DPCSA launched an initiative to stock part of the Royal Mail Post Shop range at all Forces Post Offices world-wide, to enable customers to have access to, amongst other products, packaging materials approved by the Post Office.
  2. b. DPCSA devoted considerable resources to BEM assessment, and focused on putting forward an entry into the United Kingdom National Quality Award.
  3. c. The Agency exceeded its postal and courier Quality of Service requirements against a background of a major Operational deployment to Kosovo. Despite the difficulties endemic in Operational support, and the deployment of Agency personnel to the Theatre, careful management of the postal network and the employment of civilian casual staff ensured that the target was met.
  4. d. Despite the increased mail volumes generated by the Kosovo deployment, the Agency's overall costs did not increase in real terms, which led to a reduction in the unit costs of output.
Although all targets were achieved in 1998/99, BFPO has more stringent Quality of Service targets for 1999/2000, and is required to deliver a further 3% reduction in the unit cost of output. All parts of the Agency are under scrutiny to improve efficiency, and Quality of Service is monitored by me on a weekly basis, to ensure that BFPO is on target to meet its targets. Fuller details of the Agency's achievements last year can be found in the annual report for 1998/99, which is held in the library of the House.