Tony WrightTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list the performance targets that his Department, its agencies and non-departmental public bodies are required to meet, apart from those set out in the public service agreements for 1999 to 2002 and 2001 to 2004; and if he will specify for each target(a) who sets it and (b) who monitors achievement against it. [60462]
§ Mr. LeslieI have been asked to reply.
114WIn addition to its PSA targets, the former DTLR had a number of targets set in the supporting Service Delivery Agreement (SDA) agreed between the then DETR and Treasury Ministers following the 2000 Spending Review. (Those relating to the Fire Service were agreed with Home Office Ministers, whose responsibility the Fire Service then was.) Achievement against these targets is monitored by the Department's Finance Directorate and reported quarterly to Ministers and to the Treasury. The 19 SDA targets and progress against them were published in the DETR Annual Report for 2001 (Command 5105) and in the DTLR Annual Report for 2002 (Command 5405).
Each of the former DTLR's 10 executive agencies were set key targets for 2002–03 by Ministers. These were announced to Parliament through written answers, details of which are set out as follows. Each agency chief executive is accountable to Ministers for the performance of their agency. The Department also regularly monitors performance against each agency's targets. All DTLR agencies publish annual report and accounts at the end of every financial year, which report on their performance against their targets.
I refer my hon. Friend to the answers on DTLR agencies targets as given on:
29 January 2002, Official Report, column 203W—Highways Agency26 March 2002, Official Report, column 678W—Planning Inspectorate26 March 2002, Official Report, column 947W—Maritime and Coastguard Agency29 April 2002, Official Report, column 554W—The Rent Service9 May 2002, Official Report, column 298W—Fire Service College15 May 2002, Official Report, column 674W—Queen Elizabeth II Conference Centre16 May 2002, Official Report, column 795W—Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency, Driving Standards Agency, Vehicle Certification Agency, Vehicle Inspectorate.Performance targets for executive NDPBs sponsored by the former DTLR, including outputs to be achieved, are normally agreed by Ministers and set out in the published business or corporate plan of the NDPB. Copies of such plans are available from the bodies. In most cases the Department monitors performance against these targets and for the more high profile bodies progress is discussed with Ministers. Outputs and achievements of each executive body are set out in its annual report. Copies of the annual report are available in the Library of the house.
The Secretary of State has no powers of direction over the General Lighthouse Authorities' operational activities and those bodies are responsible for setting their own performance targets and the level of service required. A business plan for the Standards Board for England (created in 2001) is being prepared and performance targets will be agreed with the Department. The Strategic Rail Authority (SRA) is required, by its Directions and Guidance from the Secretary of State, to work within its statutory framework to deliver the key rail targets set out in "Transport 2010: the Ten Year Plan" and to work with the rail industry to achieve substantial improvements in performance. Statistics in SRA's regular publications, "On track" and "National Rail Trends", provide an indication of achievement.
115WNo performance targets are set for the former Department's advisory NDPBs. Each advisory body normally sets its own programme of work for each year within its remit to advise Ministers on the particular policy area and agree this with the Department. No formal monitoring of performance takes place for these advisory bodies but outputs are set out in each body's annual report.