§ The Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Margaret Beckett)I have set the Rural Payments Agency the following performance targets for 2003–04:
CUSTOMERS
To process and pay at least 96.14 per cent. of valid IACS claims by value within the EU deadline.To process and pay at least 80 per cent. of valid non-IACS claims by volume within ministerial guidelines and 99 per cent. within the set EU Commission deadlines or in their absence 60 days.To process and pay at least 98.5 per cent. of valid claims correctly.To develop by 31 March 2004 a customer focused communications plan that builds on the findings of the Agency's Annual Customer Survey and supports the achievement of its e-take-up target for 2005.FINANCE
To ensure that disallowance within the control of RPA due to non-compliance with EU requirements remain below 2.5 per cent. of the value of CAP payments made by the Agency.To carry out 85 per cent. of the on-the-spot inspections for CAP schemes in accordance with EU regulatory requirements, taking into account any agreed derogations.BUSINESS PROCESSES
To have the Rural Land Register in place by 31 March 2004.To have the new integrated financial, e-procurement and HR systems in place by 31 March 2004.To have developed the new AAPS system in preparation for processing 2004 AAPS claims in 2004–05.To provide accurate and timely operational advice in support of policy development and Defra business systems.To merge BCMS within RPA's governance, management and operational structures by 31 March 2004.PEOPLE
To complete a baseline skills analysis of existing staff and to define the skills required for 90 per cent. of future posts by 31 March 2004.To implement the Agency's EFQM and HP action plans.