HL Deb 16 October 2003 vol 653 c137WA
Lord Peston

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What key targets have been set for the Defence Science and Technology Laboratory for financial year 2003–04. [HL4907]

The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Ministry of Defence (Lord Bach)

The following key targets have been set for the Defence Science and Technology Laboratory for financial year 2003–04:

propose simpler method of measuring customer satisfaction and at least maintain overall satisfaction and improved customer understanding of Dstl by 2005;

maintain and by the end of a three-year period show an increase in scores for scientific and engineering capability in the technical benchmarking exercise;

maintain accreditation to ISO9001: 2000, Good Laboratory Practice, IiP and other mandated quality and safety standards; implement all recommendations arising from the safety, health, environment and fire (SHEF) audits and board of inquiry;

achieve a return on capital employed (ROCE) of 6.5 per cent for 2003–04 and a MoD dividend of £3 million per year; Capital employed will equate to the total assets from which shall be deducted the total of current liabilities; maintain the average charge rate for manpower for 2003–04 and beyond below that for 2001–02 uplifted by GDP deflator;

achieve planned progress on site rationalisation to meet the 2006 date for transfer of Dstl staff to the new core site; and

agree and implement a Dstl diversity action plan.