HC Deb 28 March 2001 vol 365 cc642-3W
Maria Eagle

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions when he will announce the key tai gets for the Maritime and Coastguard Agency for 2001–02,. [156141]

Mr. Hill

I will shortly lay in the House library a copy of the Agency's Business Plan which includes its key targets for 2001–02. The key targets areto complete the review of the statutory safety regime for fishing vessels of 12–24 metres and to prepare a Code of Practice for these vessels by January 2002. to implement the internationally agreed revisions to Chapter V (Safety of Navigation) of the Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS) Convention in time for the implementation date of 1 July 2002; to achieve full implementation of the International Convention on Standards of Training. Certification and Watchkeeping (STCW95) by 1 February 2002; to complete at least 95 per cent. of the agreed programme of vessel inspections; to decide on the search and rescue response to accidents and life-threatening situations, and initiate action if necessary, within five minutes of being alerted in at least 95 per cent. of cases; to implement the agreed recommendations of the UK SAR (Search and Rescue) Helicopter coverage and provision review by 31 March 2002; to implement the agreed recommendations of the Emergency Towing Vessel (ETV) review by 31 Match 2002; to establish measurable efficiency indicators covering: search and rescue activities; the survey and inspection service; and Agency management, by 31 July 2001; to undertake customer surveys to assess the level of customer satisfaction with the work carried out by MCA, with particular emphasis on the operational side of the business, and to establish benchmarks for future surveys, by 31 March 2002.

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