HC Deb 09 May 2001 vol 368 cc194-5W
Mrs. Organ

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what key targets have been set for the United Kingdom Hydrographic Office for the financial year 2001–02. [160867]

Dr. Moonie

The key targets set for the United Kingdom Hydrographic Office in 2001–02 are as follows:

  1. 1. Publish 100 per cent. of priority safety information within the stated time scales from the receipt of the original data.
  2. 2. Deliver defence specific outputs as defined in the Tasking Authorisation Forms. All agreed outputs delivered to time and quality.
  3. 3. Improve completeness and delivery of commercial orders. 95 per cent. of orders shipped to schedule and 98 per cent. line completeness at first pick by March 2002.
  4. 4. Design, build and populate the UKHO's hydrographic data management infrastructure. Data population to start by 2002.
  5. 5. Break even taking one year with another and achieve an average return on capital employed during the plan period of 7.5 per cent.
  6. 6. Achieve efficiency measure of 5 per cent. growth in "value added" per member of staff (based on financial year 2000–01) by financial yew 2005–06.

Mrs. Organ

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when the quinquennial review of the United Kingdom Hydrographic Office will take place. [160868]

Dr. Moonie

The quinquennial review (QQR) of the UK Hydrographic Office (UKHO) will begin this month. The aim of the review is to make recommendations on the future means of delivery of the functions, products and services provided by the UKHO, assessing both the business environment and the strategic capability of the organisation and how the UKHO can best exploit its position in the future. In doing this, phase 1 of the review, which is expected to be completed by mid July, will: conduct a challenging examination of current arrangements, taking into account the requirements and views of customers, staff and other stakeholders; identify organisational and structural options for future product and service provision and provide costed options for change where this is considered appropriate in order to ensure responsive, coherent and cost-effective product and service delivery.

Following consultation, phase 2 of the review will go on to develop more detailed proposals for the targeting of improvements in performance and service delivery. The precise programme of work will be dependent on the finding of phase 1, but it is currently expected that it will be completed by November 2001.

The review will be carried out by a small team which will consult closely with the UKHO and with major stakeholders, and liaise with organisations within and outside of Government that could contribute to the review or be affected by it. The Ministry of Defence is also keen to hear the views of other organisations or individuals with an interest. These can be sent to: UKHO QQR Team, UK Hydrographic Office, Admiralty Way, Taunton, Somerset TA1 2DN. (e-mail: peterhobson@ukho.gov.uk). There will also be an opportunity for feedback on the UKHO website at www.ukho.gov.uk.