HL Deb 26 March 2004 vol 659 cc48-9WS
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of Trade and Industry (Lord Sainsbury of Turville)

My honourable friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Trade and Industry (Gerry Sutcliffe) has made the following Written Ministerial Statement.

I have set Companies House the following targets for the year 2004–05:

A fully electronic operation

To achieve 15 per cent take-up for electronic submission of documents by the end of 2004–05, 35 per cent take-up by the end of 2005–06 and 55 per cent take-up by the end of 2006–07.

Readily and freely accessible information

To ensure that products and services on Companies House Direct and WebCheck are available for 98 per cent of the time between the core hours of 7 a.m. and 8 p.m. Monday to Friday.

To ensure that the web filing service is available to customers for a minimum 98 per cent of the time between the core hours of 7 a.m. and 8 p.m. Monday to Friday.

An efficient, reliable and up-to-date registry

  • To achieve, on average, a monthly compliance rate for accounts and annual returns submitted of 92 per cent.
  • To ensure that 96.5 per cent of all forms submitted to Companies House are captured error-free.
  • To ensure that of 98 per cent of images placed on the Companies House image system are legible.
  • To ensure that at least 99 per cent of images to be placed on the image system are made available within three days.
  • To maintain a unit cost reduction of 3 per cent in real terms on document registration.
  • To achieve, taking one year with another, a 3.5 per cent average rate of return based on the operating surplus expressed as a percentage of average net assets.
  • To pay all bills due within 30 days, or on other agreed credit terms, on receipt of goods or services or a valid invoice whichever is later.

Customers who are highly satisfied with our services

  • To resolve 97 per cent of complaints within five days.
  • The chief executive to reply within 10 days to all letters from Members of Parliament delegated to her for reply.
  • To achieve a score of more than 82 per cent in each quarterly Companies House customer satisfaction survey.