House of Commons Hansard Written Ministerial Statements for 6 Apr 2005 (pt 1)

6 Apr 2005 : Column 137WS

Written Ministerial Statements

Wednesday 6 April 2005

CABINET OFFICE

Members/Peers Correspondence

The Minister for the Cabinet Office (Mr. David Miliband: I am today publishing a report on

6 Apr 2005 : Column 138WS

Departments' and Agencies' performance on handling Members' and Peers' correspondence for 2004. Details are set out in the attached table. Departmental figures are based on substantive replies unless otherwise indicated.

The footnotes to the table provide general background information on how the figures have been compiled.
Correspondence from MPs/Peers to Ministers and agency chief executives⁽¹⁾

2003 2004

Department or Agency Target setfor reply(workingdays) Number oflettersreceived Percentageof replieswithin target Target setfor reply(workingdays) Number oflettersreceived Percentageof replieswithin target

Cabinet Office 15 443 90 15 637 88

Department for Constitutional Affairs⁽²⁾ 20 2,746 49 20 3,416 64

Court Service 15 464 95 15 429 95

HM Land Registry 20 48 96 20 44 95

National Archives 15 30 90 15 149 100

10* 34 100

Northern Ireland Court Service — — — 15 14 92

Official Solicitor and Public Trustee — — — 15 17 100

Public Guardianship Office 15 95 88 15 134 93

* Target for correspondence sent direct to Agency Chief Executive.

Crown Prosecution Service 15 298 88 15 520 98

Department for Culture, Media and Sport 18 5,460 85 18 4,817 78

HM Customs and Excise3 4 18 2,040 62 18 1,321 51

Ministry of Defence⁽³⁾ 15 5,565 76 15 5,989 62

Armed Forces Personnel 15 93 98 15 126 99

Administration Agency

Army Personnel Centre 15 16 94 — — —

Defence Estates 15 24 88 15 11 100

Defence Housing Executive 15 14 79 — — —

UK Hydrographic Office 15 14 100 — — —

Veterans Agency 15 251 94 15 287 99

Warship Support Agency — — — 15 15 91

Department for Education and Skills 15 14,424 92 15 15,313 93

Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs 15 10,410 68 15 14,305 81

Food Standards Agency 20 981 13 20 782* 59

20 78** 95

* Letters where Health Ministers have replied.

** Letters where Chief Executive/Chairman has replied.

Foreign and Commonwealth Office 20 30,168 80 20 26,942 83

UK Visas⁽⁵⁾ 15 16,964 86 15 12,849 45

Department of Health6 20 19,029 54 20 20,140 80

NHS Estates⁽⁷⁾ — — — 20 112 73

NHS Pensions Agency 10 63 84 — — —

NHS Purchasing and Supplies Agency — — — 20 57 60

Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency 10 26 85 10 284 81

Home Office (non IND correspondence) 15 (20 days 37,153 58 15 9,445 76

for IND)

Immigration and Nationality Directorate (IND)⁽⁸⁾ — — — 20 35,802 34

Criminal Records Bureau 10 461 92 10 272 95

HM Prison Service⁽⁹⁾ 20 1,437 65 20 1,154 73

UK Passport Service 10 337 79 10 486 74

Inland Revenue⁽³⁾ 18 2,803 81 18 2,993 85

* Local Tax Office delegated figures (where local tax offices have 18 1,795* 35 18 1,601* 4510

replied to direct to MPs)

Valuation Office 18 13 77 18 18 83

Department for International Development 15 3,676 88 15 4,686 80

Lord President of the Council and Leader of the House of Lord's Office 15 43 88 15 60 87

Legal Secretariat to the Law Officers 15 325 65 15 404 63

Northern Ireland Office 10 503 69 10 567 68

Compensation Agency — — — 7 125 67

Northern Ireland Prison Service 10 44 68 10 48 85

Office of the Deputy Prime Minister 15 8,737 73 15 10,135 81

Planning Inspectorate 8 384 89 8 379 81

Office of the Leader of the House of Commons 15 385 96 15 504 95

Scotland Office 15 73 87 15 82 77

Department for Trade and Industry 15 14,678 58 15 11,807 72

Companies House 10 33 100 10 56 98

Employment Tribunals Service⁽¹¹⁾ — — — 10 61 93

Insolvency Service 10 34 88 10 33 94

Patent Office 10 484 98 10 297 84

Department for Transport 15 10,196 88 15 8,593 86

Driving Standards Agency 15 108 90 15 198 79

DVLA 7 1,028 99 7 1,276 100

Highways Agency 15 263 85 15 285 95

Maritime and Coastguard Agency 10 33 97 10 20 100

Vehicle and Operator Services Agency 15 25 92 15 13 77

HM Treasury⁽³⁾ 15 4,036 83 15 4,316 86

National Savings and Investments 15 24 70 15 74 92

National Statistics 15 193 84 15 189 95

* Letters where National Statistician replied on Ministers' behalf 10 104* 84 10 133* 73

Treasury Solicitor's Department 10 34 100 10 49 98

Wales Office 15 120 82 15 109 92

Department for Work and Pensions 20 12,157 74 20 13,319 86

Appeals Service 15 84 88 15 50 98

Child Support Agency⁽¹²⁾ 20 3,521 87 15 5,390 88

Jobcentre Plus 15 1,052 69 15 1,136 90

The Pension Service 15 1,157 50 15 1,340 89

Disability and Carers Service 15 554 99 15 451 100

Debt Management 15 31 85 15 25 100

Child Benefit Centre 20 11 91 — — —

Health and Safety Executive 10 195 91 10 127 70

⁽¹⁾ Departments and agencies which received 10 MPs/Peers letters or less during 2004 are not shown in this table. Holding or interim replies are not included unless otherwise indicated.
⁽²⁾ Internal restructuring and changes to the correspondence handling system undertaken during second half of 2004. As a result, performance improved to 88 per cent during that period.
⁽³⁾ Includes all ministerial correspondence.
⁽⁴⁾ Downturn in performance due to internal restructuring and changes in the correspondence handling system. Introduction of new system improved performance to 82 per cent in the last quarter of 2004.
⁽⁵⁾ Unit is aware of poor performance in 2004 and is taking the necessary measures to improve performance in 2005.
⁽⁶⁾ Performance improved to 91 per cent in final quarter of 2004.
⁽⁷⁾ Includes eight letters sent directly to agency chief executive, 100 per cent were answered within the 10 working day response target.
⁽⁸⁾ IND experienced a 46 per cent increase (a 13 per cent increase in ministerial correspondence) in correspondence in 2004. Difficulties following the roll out of a new correspondence handling system led to significant delays. Necessary measures are being implemented to improve performance in 2005.
⁽⁹⁾ Includes a small number of interim replies.
⁽¹⁰⁾ Performance suffered due to exceptionally high volume of complaints received concerning working and child tax credits generally as claimants became familiar with a new system. Further efforts are being made to improve internal correspondence handling systems which will lead to an improvement in performance.
⁽¹¹⁾ Includes four letters sent directly to agency chief executive, 100 per cent were answered within the 10 working day response target.
⁽¹²⁾ Response target reduced from 20 to 15 working days in 2004.

6 Apr 2005 : Column 141WS

	2003	2004
Department or Agency	Target setfor reply(workingdays)	Number oflettersreceived	Percentageof replieswithin target	Target setfor reply(workingdays)	Number oflettersreceived	Percentageof replieswithin target
Cabinet Office	15	443	90	15	637	88
Department for Constitutional Affairs⁽²⁾	20	2,746	49	20	3,416	64
Court Service	15	464	95	15	429	95
HM Land Registry	20	48	96	20	44	95
National Archives	15	30	90	15	149	100
	10*	34	100
Northern Ireland Court Service	—	—	—	15	14	92
Official Solicitor and Public Trustee	—	—	—	15	17	100
Public Guardianship Office	15	95	88	15	134	93
* Target for correspondence sent direct to Agency Chief Executive.
Crown Prosecution Service	15	298	88	15	520	98
Department for Culture, Media and Sport	18	5,460	85	18	4,817	78
HM Customs and Excise3 4	18	2,040	62	18	1,321	51
Ministry of Defence⁽³⁾	15	5,565	76	15	5,989	62
Armed Forces Personnel	15	93	98	15	126	99
Administration Agency
Army Personnel Centre	15	16	94	—	—	—
Defence Estates	15	24	88	15	11	100
Defence Housing Executive	15	14	79	—	—	—
UK Hydrographic Office	15	14	100	—	—	—
Veterans Agency	15	251	94	15	287	99
Warship Support Agency	—	—	—	15	15	91
Department for Education and Skills	15	14,424	92	15	15,313	93
Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs	15	10,410	68	15	14,305	81
Food Standards Agency	20	981	13	20	782*	59
				20	78**	95
* Letters where Health Ministers have replied.
** Letters where Chief Executive/Chairman has replied.
Foreign and Commonwealth Office	20	30,168	80	20	26,942	83
UK Visas⁽⁵⁾	15	16,964	86	15	12,849	45
Department of Health6	20	19,029	54	20	20,140	80
NHS Estates⁽⁷⁾	—	—	—	20	112	73
NHS Pensions Agency	10	63	84	—	—	—
NHS Purchasing and Supplies Agency	—	—	—	20	57	60
Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency	10	26	85	10	284	81
Home Office (non IND correspondence)	15 (20 days	37,153	58	15	9,445	76
	for IND)
Immigration and Nationality Directorate (IND)⁽⁸⁾	—	—	—	20	35,802	34
Criminal Records Bureau	10	461	92	10	272	95
HM Prison Service⁽⁹⁾	20	1,437	65	20	1,154	73
UK Passport Service	10	337	79	10	486	74
Inland Revenue⁽³⁾	18	2,803	81	18	2,993	85
* Local Tax Office delegated figures (where local tax offices have	18	1,795*	35	18	1,601*	4510
replied to direct to MPs)
Valuation Office	18	13	77	18	18	83
Department for International Development	15	3,676	88	15	4,686	80
Lord President of the Council and Leader of the House of Lord's Office	15	43	88	15	60	87
Legal Secretariat to the Law Officers	15	325	65	15	404	63
Northern Ireland Office	10	503	69	10	567	68
Compensation Agency	—	—	—	7	125	67
Northern Ireland Prison Service	10	44	68	10	48	85
Office of the Deputy Prime Minister	15	8,737	73	15	10,135	81
Planning Inspectorate	8	384	89	8	379	81
Office of the Leader of the House of Commons	15	385	96	15	504	95
Scotland Office	15	73	87	15	82	77
Department for Trade and Industry	15	14,678	58	15	11,807	72
Companies House	10	33	100	10	56	98
Employment Tribunals Service⁽¹¹⁾	—	—	—	10	61	93
Insolvency Service	10	34	88	10	33	94
Patent Office	10	484	98	10	297	84
Department for Transport	15	10,196	88	15	8,593	86
Driving Standards Agency	15	108	90	15	198	79
DVLA	7	1,028	99	7	1,276	100
Highways Agency	15	263	85	15	285	95
Maritime and Coastguard Agency	10	33	97	10	20	100
Vehicle and Operator Services Agency	15	25	92	15	13	77
HM Treasury⁽³⁾	15	4,036	83	15	4,316	86
National Savings and Investments	15	24	70	15	74	92
National Statistics	15	193	84	15	189	95
* Letters where National Statistician replied on Ministers' behalf	10	104*	84	10	133*	73
Treasury Solicitor's Department	10	34	100	10	49	98
Wales Office	15	120	82	15	109	92
Department for Work and Pensions	20	12,157	74	20	13,319	86
Appeals Service	15	84	88	15	50	98
Child Support Agency⁽¹²⁾	20	3,521	87	15	5,390	88
Jobcentre Plus	15	1,052	69	15	1,136	90
The Pension Service	15	1,157	50	15	1,340	89
Disability and Carers Service	15	554	99	15	451	100
Debt Management	15	31	85	15	25	100
Child Benefit Centre	20	11	91	—	—	—
Health and Safety Executive	10	195	91	10	127	70

DEFENCE

Sea King Helicopter

The Minister of State, Ministry of Defence (Mr. Adam Ingram): I am announcing today the award of a contract to Westland Helicopters Ltd. for phase one of the Sea King Integrated Operational Support Programme, part of the wider Defence Logistics Transformation Programme, which is seeking to improve the effectiveness and efficiency of military logistics support to the front line. The contract is worth £300 million over the first five years, with a price review thereafter, and includes the provision of technical and spares support to the Sea King fleet. It will result in savings of some £50 million over ten years, which is a considerable improvement on current support costs.

There are seven different variants of Sea King currently in service with the Royal Navy and Royal Air Force in a variety of roles including maritime, air sea rescue operations and support to land forces. The Sea King Integrated Operational Support programme will improve the way in which support is provided for the Sea King platform, focusing on maximising aircraft availability, improving spares delivery and reducing through-life costs. It will secure the ability of the Sea King to continue operations in support of the UK Armed Forces in the future.

Phase 2 of the programme is expected to be implemented in around eighteen months' time, subject to a successful performance review against Phase 1 implementation.

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