HC Deb 26 March 2002 vol 382 cc803-4W
Dr. Starkey

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what targets she has set her Department's Radiocommunications Agency for 2002–03. [47159]

Mr. Alexander

I have set the Radiocommunications Agency the following quality of service targets for 2002–03 in respect of its licensing and enforcement activities, and correspondence. These are in addition to achieving an overall efficiency improvement of 3 per cent. over 2002–02.

Licensing Targets

Category A Licences that involve no frequency assignment, site clearance or international co-ordination: 100 per cent. of applications for new or varied services to be awarded or rejected (with explanation) within five working days.

Category B Licences that involve frequency assignment but no site clearance or international co-ordination: 90 per cent. of applications for new or varied services to be awarded or rejected (with explanation) within 15 working days; the remainder to be awarded or rejected within 25 working days or an explanation of the delay to be given.

Category C Licences that require frequency assignment and site clearance and/or international co-ordination: 90 per cent. of applications for new or varied services to be awarded or rejected (with explanation) within 40 working days; the remainder to be awarded or rejected within 60 working days or an explanation of the delay to be given.

Enforcement 100 per cent. of safety of life services reports of interference to be investigated within 24 hours. 98 per cent. of business customers reports of interference to be investigated within five working days; the remainder within a further five days. 98 per cent. of domestic customers reports of interference to be investigated within one month; the remainder within a further month. 90 per cent. of complaints to be sent a formal case update within 10 working days after the start of an investigation, the remainder within a further 10 days.

Correspondence I also expect all correspondence from hon. Members delegated to the Chief Executive by Ministers or otherwise for reply, and all written complaints addressed to him about Agency service, to be answered within 10 working days of receipt; the Agency's enquiry point to respond to 95 per cent. of calls within 30 second; and 100 per cent. of valid invoices to be paid within 30 days of receipt (or as agreed with the supplier).