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Performance Targets

Helen Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what performance targets have been set for the Medical Supplies Agency for 2001-02. [153204]

Dr. Moonie: Key Targets have been set for the Chief Executive of the Medical Supplies Agency (MSA) for financial year 2001-02. The targets build on the progress already made by the Agency since it formed in March 1996 and are as follows:

Key Target 1--composite medical materiel

To build, completely, to schedule and within budget, by 31 March 2002, 100 per cent. of all modules on the mutually Operational Build Programme, as authorised by the Director Medical Operational Capability (D Med Op Cap).

Key Target 2--the operational requirement

To meet demands from units on active operations for blood products and scaled medical material within new and more challenging MSA Charter Response Time.

Key Target 3--the exercise and training requirement

To meet 100 per cent. of the Services requirements for modularised medical material, First Aid Kits, blood and blood products in support of exercises, training, Air Shows and other major events.

Key Target 4--response to demands

To meet the stated percentages of all demands for Category B items (commonly used items with a unit cost of less than £100 and approved by D Med Op Cap) within the agreed timescale, expressed in working days.

Key Target 5--stock issued to stock held ratio

To improve the ratio of stock issued to stock held from 2 to 2.25.

Mr. Gapes: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what performance targets have been set for the Defence Medical Training Organisation for 2001-02. [153205]

Dr. Moonie: Key Targets have been set for the Chief Executive of the Defence Medical Training Organisation (DMTO) for financial year 2001-02. The targets build on the progress already made by the Agency since it formed in April 1997 and are as follows:

Key Target 1--academic success (quality and quantity)

To achieve the following academic success rates:

Phase 2 Training--96 per cent.

(Formerly entitled Common Core Course (CCC)).

Specialist Registrars (SpR)--96 per cent.

Pre-Registration Nurses (Pre-Reg Nurses)--96 per cent.

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Key Target 2--academic success (timeliness)

The following percentage of trainees achieving academic success to be delivered on time, as agreed with the customer:

Phase 2 Training--96 per cent. (at first attempt, remainder at second attempt (which is normally within three months)).

SpR--96 per cent.

Pre-Reg Nurses--98 per cent.

Key Target 3--external individual medical services training

Confirm with customers the baseline requirement for external medical services training by 31 March 2002.

Key Target 4--corporate efficiency index

To achieve a 3 per cent. efficiency improvement demonstrated by the DMTO corporate efficiency index for 2001-02.

Ms Perham: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what performance targets have been set for the Defence Dental Agency for 2001-02. [153206]

Dr. Moonie: Key Targets have been set for the Chief Executive of the Defence Dental Agency (DDA) for financial year 2001-02. The targets build on the progress already made by the Agency since it formed in March 1996 and are as follows:

Key Target 1--The Operational Requirement

From within personnel resources allocated to the DDA by single Services, to achieve 100 per cent. of personnel called forward, trained to required professional and military standards, at the specified readiness for deployment with the Joint Rapid Reaction Force (JRRF) and all operations.

Key Target 2--Overall Dental Fitness

For each Service, to achieve the dental fitness level targets, representing a significant improvement in Army dental fitness, as follows:

(a) RN--at least 75 per cent.

(b) Army--at least 70 per cent.

(c) RAF--at least 75 per cent.

Key Target 3--Treatment Needs

To reduce the Treatment Need Index (TNI) for each Service to the following:

(a) RN--at or below 470.

(b) Army--at or below 670.

(c) RAF--at or below 330.

Key Target 4--Dental Fitness Category D

To limit the number of personnel in dental fitness Category D4 (those personnel who have not received a dental inspection and charting for 12 months or more) representing a significant improvement in the Army position in particular, to the following percentage of the total Service population:

(a) RN--13 per cent.

(b) Army--16 per cent.

(c) RAF--10 per cent.

Key Target 5--Military Training

To ensure that 80 per cent. of all DDA personnel, whose medical category permits, are released to undertake annual military training as specified by respective single Services.

Key Target 6--Personnel for Exercises

To ensure that 100 per cent. of all DDA personnel nominated to established posts in the operational core requirement of their parent Service are released to attend appropriate exercises.

Ms Blears: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what performance targets have been set for the Defence Secondary Care Agency for 2001-02. [153207]

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Dr. Moonie: Key Targets have been set for the Chief Executive of the Defence Secondary Care Agency (DSCA) for financial year 2001-02. The targets build on the progress already made by the Agency since it formed in April 1996 and are as follows:

Key Target 1--The Operational Requirement

From within the personnel resources provided to the DSCA by the single Services, to meet 100 per cent. of the requirement of the Commanders in Chief's (CinCs) for secondary care personnel for operational deployments.

Key Target 2--Outpatient Waiting Times

To ensure that 45 per cent. of Service patients referred to the Agency are offered a first outpatient appointment within four weeks of receipt of a referral and 90 per cent. within 13 weeks.

Key Target 3--Inpatient Waiting Times

To ensure that 80 per cent. of Service patients are offered a treatment date which is within 13 weeks of the decision to give inpatient treatment.

Key Target 4--Efficiency

To review medical equipment management policies and make savings of 10 per cent. or more in the costs of procurement, support and associated training.

Key Target 5--Quality (Clinical Governance)

To demonstrate measurable improvement in military patient satisfaction and risk management and introduce the agreed NHS procedures of appraisal for doctors and clinical supervision for nurses, by 31 March 2002.

Key Target 6--Military Training

To ensure that 80 per cent. of all DSCA personnel, whose medical category permits, are released to receive their respective Service's annual mandatory military training.

Key Target 7--Personnel for Exercises

To ensure that 80 per cent. of DSCA based personnel nominated to established posts in their Service's operational core requirement are released to attend appropriate exercises.

Reserve Forces

Mr. Chaytor: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what plans he has to call out members of the reserve forces to support UN operations in (a) Sierra Leone and (b) the Democratic Republic of the Congo. [153203]

Dr. Moonie: Our policy remains that, reservists who volunteer to serve with our regular forces on such operations will be called-out as and when required. The first call-out order made under section 56 of the Reserve Forces Act 1996 expired on 1 March, and a further order effective from that date has been made to permit members of the reserve forces to continue to be called out for operations in Sierra Leone and the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

Gulf War

Mr. Hendrick: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he plans to resume the programme of voluntary immunisation against anthrax for armed forces personnel deployed to the Gulf. [153378]

Mr. Spellar: We plan to resume the anthrax immunisation programme for personnel deployed on operations to the Gulf shortly. Immunisation was last offered in 1998, but had to be suspended due to manufacturing difficulties at our supplier. We have now

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received the first new supplies of licensed anthrax vaccine and will be in a position to resume the voluntary immunisation programme in April.

Anthrax immunisation is safe and effective. As in 1998, it will be offered to personnel on the basis of voluntary informed consent. By accepting it alongside other defensive measures, armed forces personnel will have the very best protection possible against anthrax used as a biological weapon.

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