HC Deb 01 April 2004 vol 419 c99WS
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Transport (Mr. David Jamieson)

I am pleased to announce the Ministerial Targets for the Maritime and Coastguard Agency for 2004–05. I will place in the House Library, shortly, a copy of the Agency's Business Plan and Forward Look, which includes its Ministerial targets for 2004–05. The Ministerial targets areIn at least 96 per cent. of incidents, within 5 minutes of being alerted, take a decision on the appropriate search and rescue response and initiate action if necessary; Deliver at least 97 per cent. of planned ship inspections, and ensure that 95 per cent. of mandatory expanded ship inspections are carried out; Approve ship security plans and undertake verifications of all applicable UK registered cargo ships; Establish a baseline for seafarer satisfaction levels; Develop a robust statistical base and design a system, which will allow the Agency to measure accurately the impact of its incident prevention activity; Ensure that no more than 3 per cent. of UK ships inspected under the Paris Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) arrangements are detained, and also ensure that the UK Shipping Register maintains a position on the Paris MOU White List which is comparable to registers of a similar size and reputation.