House of Commons Hansard Written Answers for 17 Jan 2006 (pt 10)

17 Jan 2006 : Column 1210W—continued

Valuation Office Agency

Mr. Sanders: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the national targets are for the Valuation Office Agency; and what the performance of relevant offices in the South West Region has been against those targets. [41993]

Dawn Primarolo: Within the South West Region are the Valuation Office Agency's South Western and Western Groups, covering local taxation work, and the South West District Valuer Services Unit covering other work. The national targets for 2004–05 and audited results (which are also available on the Agency's website at www.voa.gov.uk) are shown as follows, with a division between those offices within South West Region where applicable. National targets are also shown for the current year—2005–06—for which results will be published in the Agency's Annual Report in due course.
Valuation office agency national targets and results—2004/05

Agency wide key targets Agency target Agency result

National result—apportionment to South West not applicable

Value for money

Improve productivity by 2.5% in 2004–05 2.5% 2.4%

And achieve improvements of at least 15%, on 2004–05 figures, by 2007–08 15% by 2007–08 'On course'

People satisfaction

Improve staff satisfaction in working for the VOA in comparison with other places of work, based on annual survey results, by 1% 53% 58%

Financial break even"

Recover full resource costs within Parliamentary Approved Estimates, including a return on capital of £3. 5 million from fees and charges Achieved

Local taxation key targets

Valuation accuracy

Contain reductions in the 2000 local rating lists to less than 7.5% in respect of compiled list appeals settled in 2004–05 7.5% 9.7%

And to a maximum of 4.7% of the total compiled list rateable value over the entire life 2000 rating lists 4.7% 4.6%

Council tax revaluation

Prepare for the forthcoming revaluation of domestic properties in England by digitising data for 97.5% of properties by 31 March 2005 97.5% Achieved

And, by 31 July 2004, evaluate whether the automated valuation model (AVM) can be utilised effectively for the banding of a minimum of 60% of dwellings 60% Achieved

District valuer services key target

Achieve an increased fee income of £19.2 million £19.2 million £19.4 million

And ensure that its share of VOA costs is covered Achieved

17 Jan 2006 : Column 1211W

Local taxation key targets Target South West
Group Result Western
Group Result

Rating revaluation

Prepare for the forthcoming revaluation of non-domestic properties in England and Wales by producing draft rating lists by 30 September 2004 Achieved Achieved

And compiled rating lists by 31 March 2005 Achieved Achieved

Customer satisfaction

Maintain customer satisfaction, based on annual surveys, at 86% 86% 72.16% 76.19%

Local taxation—other targets

Rating

Draft programmes for clearance of appeals available by 31 July 2004 31 July 2004 Achieved Achieved

Publish final programmes by 1 October 2004 1 October 2004 Achieved Achieved

And adhere to start date in 95% of cases 95% 98.85% 96.65%

Appeals settled—England 280,000 13,555 11,296

95% of reports cleared within three months of receipt 95% 92.91% 95.3%

And clear all those received within 2004–05 by the end of the year 100% 100% 100%

Council tax

Clear council tax appeals within a maximum of 27,800 in England 27,800 3,015 1,554

Provide a considered view to taxpayers on whether an adjustment to their banding is justified within two months of receipt of their appeal 100% 46.67% 64.1%

Ensure that all appeals are ready for hearing within six months 100% 96.67% 96.61%

Clear 95% of all reports within three months of receipt 95% 96.3% 97.36%

And 95% of all reports, in respect of new properties, within two months of receipt 95% 91.55% 95.92%

Ensure that 95% of new bandings are right first time" 95% 94.17% 94.58%

Customer service

Answer all telephone calls within an overall average of 10 seconds 100% 100% 100%

Acknowledge all correspondence within five working days 100% 98% 99%

Reply to 90% of correspondence, based on information held, within 15 working days 90% 82.74% 94.8%

See all callers to our offices within five minutes 100% 100% 100%

Achieve specified standards for valuation accuracy 90% 93.33% 93.3%

Meet timeliness targets 90% 92.9% 92.5%

District valuer services—other targets Target District valuer SW result

Inheritance tax

Clear all initial appraisal cases within 20 working days 100% 93%

Report agreed values for 75% of cases within three months 75% 83%

Report agreed values for 90% of cases within six months 90% 95%

Report agreed values for 95% of cases within nine months 95% 98%

Capital gains tax

Clear 90% of initial appraisal/information valuation cases within 30 working days 90% 79%

And the remainder within three months 100% 95%

Clear 90% of negotiation cases within six months 90% 66%

And the remainder within 12 months 100% 90%

Agency wide key targets	Agency target	Agency result
National result—apportionment to South West not applicable
Value for money
Improve productivity by 2.5% in 2004–05	2.5%	2.4%
And achieve improvements of at least 15%, on 2004–05 figures, by 2007–08	15% by 2007–08	'On course'
People satisfaction
Improve staff satisfaction in working for the VOA in comparison with other places of work, based on annual survey results, by 1%	53%	58%
Financial break even"
Recover full resource costs within Parliamentary Approved Estimates, including a return on capital of £3. 5 million from fees and charges		Achieved

Local taxation key targets
Valuation accuracy
Contain reductions in the 2000 local rating lists to less than 7.5% in respect of compiled list appeals settled in 2004–05	7.5%	9.7%
And to a maximum of 4.7% of the total compiled list rateable value over the entire life 2000 rating lists	4.7%	4.6%
Council tax revaluation
Prepare for the forthcoming revaluation of domestic properties in England by digitising data for 97.5% of properties by 31 March 2005	97.5%	Achieved
And, by 31 July 2004, evaluate whether the automated valuation model (AVM) can be utilised effectively for the banding of a minimum of 60% of dwellings	60%	Achieved

District valuer services key target
Achieve an increased fee income of £19.2 million	£19.2 million	£19.4 million
And ensure that its share of VOA costs is covered		Achieved

Local taxation key targets	Target	South West Group Result	Western Group Result
Rating revaluation
Prepare for the forthcoming revaluation of non-domestic properties in England and Wales by producing draft rating lists by 30 September 2004	Achieved	Achieved
And compiled rating lists by 31 March 2005		Achieved	Achieved
Customer satisfaction
Maintain customer satisfaction, based on annual surveys, at 86%	86%	72.16%	76.19%

Local taxation—other targets
Rating
Draft programmes for clearance of appeals available by 31 July 2004	31 July 2004	Achieved	Achieved
Publish final programmes by 1 October 2004	1 October 2004	Achieved	Achieved
And adhere to start date in 95% of cases	95%	98.85%	96.65%
Appeals settled—England	280,000	13,555	11,296
95% of reports cleared within three months of receipt	95%	92.91%	95.3%
And clear all those received within 2004–05 by the end of the year	100%	100%	100%
Council tax
Clear council tax appeals within a maximum of 27,800 in England	27,800	3,015	1,554
Provide a considered view to taxpayers on whether an adjustment to their banding is justified within two months of receipt of their appeal	100%	46.67%	64.1%
Ensure that all appeals are ready for hearing within six months	100%	96.67%	96.61%
Clear 95% of all reports within three months of receipt	95%	96.3%	97.36%
And 95% of all reports, in respect of new properties, within two months of receipt	95%	91.55%	95.92%
Ensure that 95% of new bandings are right first time"	95%	94.17%	94.58%
Customer service
Answer all telephone calls within an overall average of 10 seconds	100%	100%	100%
Acknowledge all correspondence within five working days	100%	98%	99%
Reply to 90% of correspondence, based on information held, within 15 working days	90%	82.74%	94.8%
See all callers to our offices within five minutes	100%	100%	100%
Achieve specified standards for valuation accuracy	90%	93.33%	93.3%
Meet timeliness targets	90%	92.9%	92.5%

District valuer services—other targets	Target	District valuer SW result
Inheritance tax
Clear all initial appraisal cases within 20 working days	100%	93%
Report agreed values for 75% of cases within three months	75%	83%
Report agreed values for 90% of cases within six months	90%	95%
Report agreed values for 95% of cases within nine months	95%	98%
Capital gains tax
Clear 90% of initial appraisal/information valuation cases within 30 working days	90%	79%
And the remainder within three months	100%	95%
Clear 90% of negotiation cases within six months	90%	66%
And the remainder within 12 months	100%	90%

CONSTITUTIONAL AFFAIRS

Clinical Negligence

Mr. Baron: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs how many legally aided clinical negligence cases were closed in the last 12 months; and how many (a) proceeded beyond investigation and (b) resulted in (i) an award of damages and (ii) a settlement involving an agreement to pay damages. [43104]

Bridget Prentice: In the last year 6,217 cases were closed where an outcome was reported of which 2,574 went beyond the investigation stage. In these cases the solicitors reported a substantive benefit to the client in 56 per cent. of cases.

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Departmental Expenditure

Pete Wishart: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs what has been the annual expenditure on training and development for (a) her Department and (b) each (i) non-departmental public body, (ii) executive agency and (iii) other public body for which she is responsible in (A) Scotland, (B) Wales, (C) each of the English regions and (D) Northern Ireland in each of the last three financial years; and what the planned expenditure is for 2005–06. [40004]

Bridget Prentice: Since April 2002 the Department for Constitutional Affairs (formerly the Lord Chancellor's Department) has provided a corporate HR service, including learning and development for the Department and it's executive agencies—Court Service (until 1 April 2005), Her Majesty's Courts Service (from 1 April 2005)

17 Jan 2006 : Column 1213W

and Public Guardianship Office. The Legal Service Commission has its own HR department including learning and development.

Annual expenditure for central learning and development provision for the last three years in (a) The Department and (b) (ii) executive agencies is as follows.

Annual expenditure (£)

2002–03 891,558

2003–04 1,636,831

2004–05 1,609,268

	Annual expenditure (£)
2002–03	891,558
2003–04	1,636,831
2004–05	1,609,268

It is not possible to provide a breakdown across Department and agencies nor across countries/regions as expenditure is not recorded in this way and the information could be provided only at disproportionate expense.

These figures do not include local expenditure on learning and development activity. This information could be provided only at disproportionate expense.

In 2005–06 planned expenditure is as follows:

Planned expenditure (£)

Central learning and development including SCS 3,577,000

HMCS Regions

London 255,000

Midlands 195,000

North West 195,000

North East 270,000

South West 195,000

South East 240,000

Wales and Cheshire 150,000

Regional Total 1,500,000

	Planned expenditure (£)
Central learning and development including SCS	3,577,000
HMCS Regions
London	255,000
Midlands	195,000
North West	195,000
North East	270,000
South West	195,000
South East	240,000
Wales and Cheshire	150,000
Regional Total	1,500,000

The budget for learning and development has increased significantly in 2005–06 as the creation of HMCS increased the size of the organisation by approximately 10,000 staff, including approx 2,500 lawyers who need to meet their continuing professional development requirements.

Annual expenditure for central learning and development provision for the last three years in (b) (i) Legal Services Commission is as follows:

2002–03 2003–04 2004–05 2005–06

Central training 912,418 1,203,801 454,207 987,614

Regional Offices

London 5,249 33,831 123,161 52,652

Bristol 10,130 25,444 31,275 29,867

Cardiff 7,123 6,176 24,734 27,804

Birmingham 4,343 10,950 24,076 25,800

Manchester 17,124 46,157 20,675 11,067

Newcastle 6,685 8,872 31,624 453

Leeds 3,743 8,705 17,073 2,273

Nottingham 2,964 4,806 6,924 13,250

Cambridge 9,553 24,447 21,141 14,232

Chester/Liverpool 6,756 15,141 22,918 22,530

South East 8,707 6,991 25,941 45,294

Regional total 102,377 191,520 349,542 245,222

17 Jan 2006 : Column 1214W

	2002–03	2003–04	2004–05	2005–06
Central training	912,418	1,203,801	454,207	987,614

Regional Offices
London	5,249	33,831	123,161	52,652
Bristol	10,130	25,444	31,275	29,867
Cardiff	7,123	6,176	24,734	27,804
Birmingham	4,343	10,950	24,076	25,800
Manchester	17,124	46,157	20,675	11,067
Newcastle	6,685	8,872	31,624	453
Leeds	3,743	8,705	17,073	2,273
Nottingham	2,964	4,806	6,924	13,250
Cambridge	9,553	24,447	21,141	14,232
Chester/Liverpool	6,756	15,141	22,918	22,530
South East	8,707	6,991	25,941	45,294
Regional total	102,377	191,520	349,542	245,222

It is not possible to provide a breakdown for the central training budget across regions as expenditure is not recorded in this way and the information could be provided only at disproportionate expense

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