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Veterinary Medicines Directorate

Mr. Dobbin: To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what performance targets he has set the Veterinary Medicines Directorate for 1999-2000. [83053]

Mr. Nick Brown: I have set the Veterinary Medicines Directorate the following performance targets for 1999-2000.

Safety and Quality

1. To provide high quality scientific assessment work.

2. To provide high quality policy advice to Ministers.

3. To enter Suspected Adverse Reactions Surveillance Scheme (SARSS) reports onto the database as follows:

Human SAR reports: within 2 working days

Serious animal reports: within 2 working days

Non-serious animal reports: within 10 working days

4. To report to the Veterinary Products Committee each quarter reviewing trends in SARSS reports and identifying areas requiring evaluation.

5. To collect 100 per cent. and analyse at least 95 per cent. of the samples collected in the national residues surveillance plan.

Standards of Service

6. 100 per cent. compliance with timetables for Centralised and Decentralised authorisation procedures (including Maximum Residue Limits).

7. 92 per cent. of new Marketing Authorisations to be determined or referred to VPC within 120 clock days.

8. 100 per cent. of new Marketing Authorisations to be determined within 210 clock days.

9. 100 per cent. of valid variation applications to have first assessment by 75 clock days and to be determined by 150 clock days.

10. 100 per cent. of valid renewal applications to have first assessment by 90 clock days and to be determined by 180 clock days.

Efficiency

11. To develop new efficiency indicators that will apply from 1 April 2000.

Financial Control

12. To recover from industry and Government the full economic cost (calculated according to accruals accounting) of each of its main business activities of:

licensing and surveillance

policy work

residue monitoring

29 Apr 1999 : Column: 268

13. To operate within 95 per cent. to 100 per cent. of allocations by MAFF Management Board for running costs, capital and receipts.

PRESIDENT OF THE COUNCIL

Special Advisers

Mr. Tyrie: To ask the President of the Council, pursuant to her answer of 18 March 1999, Official Report, column 711, on special advisers, if she will give the total travel cost of each occasion when (a) departmental and (b) non-departmental advisers travelled abroad in an official capacity since 2 May 1997 and the place visited. [82435]

Mrs. Beckett: In the period from 2 May 1997 to 31 March 1999 Special Advisers in my Department travelled overseas in an official capacity on one occasion, to France, Belgium and the Netherlands. The total cost of travel and hotel accommodation was £463.07. All travel complied with the requirements of the Ministerial Code and the Civil Service Management Code.

HOUSE OF COMMONS

Immigration and Asylum Bill Special Standing Committee

Mr. Lock: To ask the President of the Council what was the total cost to public funds of the afternoon sitting of the Special Standing Committee on the Immigration and Asylum Bill on 20 April. [82207]

Mrs. Beckett: The additional costs incurred were mainly for catering staff overtime, and some minimal costs for committee staff and security. It is not possible to identify the specific additional cost of running this committee to public funds because it is not the House's practice to analyse day to day running costs.

European Community Documents

Mr. Bercow: To ask the President of the Council, pursuant to her answer to the hon. Member for Great Grimsby (Mr. Mitchell) of 14 April 1999, Official Report, column 275, if she will place her full reply in the Library. [82297]

Mrs. Beckett: When I reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Great Grimsby (Mr. Mitchell), I shall, of course, ensure a copy is placed in the Library of the House.

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