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The Child Maintenance and Enforcement Commission's 2010-11 targets are:
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The Health and Safety Executive's outcome targets consist of the 2008-11 Departmental Strategic Objective 3 indicators that reflect direction of travel and the 2000-2010 Revitalising Health and Safety numerical targets. The latter are:
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Reduce the incidence rates of cases of work-related ill health from a June 2000 baseline | |
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Reduce the incidence rate of fatalities and major injury accidents from a June 2000 baseline |
- 2 An average of two elements: conducting 83% of Income Support lone parent work-focused reviews within 3 months of when they are due and 87% of JSA interviews within 6 weeks of when they are due.
- 4 Assessed against the Department's Customer Charter service standards of 'Right Treatment', 'Right Result', 'On Time' and 'Easy Access'.
- 5 Jobcentre Plus and the Department are jointly responsible for this target. Jobcentre Plus monitors an internal operational target designed to mitigate the risk of fraud and error entering the system.
- 6 The Agency will monitor data through the first part of the year and adjust the target level if necessary on the basis of actual volumes processed.
- 7 Extrapolated from the respective 20% and 10% target reductions for the original 2000-2010 Revitalising Health and Safety (RHS) period.
EU: Council Meetings
Statement
The Minister of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office (Baroness Kinnock of Holyhead): My honourable friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (Chris Bryant) has made the following Written Ministerial Statement.
The General Affairs Council (GAC) and Foreign Affairs Council (FAC) were held on 22 March in Brussels. My right honourable friend the Foreign Secretary (David Miliband) represented the UK.
The agenda items covered were as follows:
The provisional report of the meeting can be found at: http://www.consilium.europa.eu/uedocs/cms_data/docs/pressdata/EN/foraff/113482.pdf
The agreed 'A' points included an EU Declaration on free access to information in Iran calling on the Iranian authorities to stop jamming satellite broadcasting and internet censorship. There was no FAC discussion. A text of Declaration can be found at: http://www.consilium.europa.eu/uedocs/cms_data/docs/pressdata/EN/foraff/113468.pdf
High Representative Ashton and Humanitarian Affairs Commissioner Georgieva briefed on their recent visits, stressing the need to learn lessons and review structures.
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Ministers agreed Conclusions on Haiti including on the Donors' Conference. These can be found at http://www.consilium.europa.eu/uedocs/cms_data/docs/pressdata/EN/foraff/113466.pdf
The High Representative introduced the new double-hatted EU Special Representative (EUSR) for Afghanistan, Vygaudas Ušackas, and urged member states to give him their full support to implement the EU's Action Plan. She stressed the need for the international community to maintain momentum generated by the London Conference and ensure the Afghan Government fulfilled their commitments. The EUSR said his three key tasks were to merge the two existing EU offices in Kabul, establish a close working relationship with member states' missions on the ground and increase the EU's visibility.
The Foreign Secretary said the EUSR should make his own distinct contribution to the international effort and suggested three objectives: to become the effective EU political voice on the ground; to ensure that EU activities were a catalyst for progress-including integrating EUPOL with NATO efforts and supporting local governors; and to develop a coherent EU development strategy.
The High Representative said she was considering options on EUPOL and would share her thoughts with member states in due course. She looked forward to a discussion on implementing the Action Plan at the April FAC.
A text of the agreed Conclusions can be found at: http://www.consilium.europa.eu/uedocs/cms_data/docs/pressdata/EN/foraff/113468.pdf
On Pakistan, Ashton urged member states to show support ahead of the 21 April Summit, especially on Generalised System of Preferences (GSP+). We should back Pakistan economically as well as politically. The Foreign Secretary strongly endorsed the importance of EU trade with Pakistan.
The High Representative briefed on her visit to the region of 18 March.
The Quartet Representative (Tony Blair) set out the difficulties facing the peace process. Europe had a key role in helping progress negotiations. The Foreign Secretary stressed the need to support proximity talks, which needed to focus on substantive issues.
The Commissioner, Štefan Füle, said the Commission was taking forward the Action Plan, including with the new Ukrainian Foreign Minister this week, and would revert with further recommendations at a future FAC.
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Member states urged the Commission to speed up the provision of macro financial assistance to Moldova which Enlargement Commissioner Füle confirmed would commence in April. He noted the Visa Dialogue was expected to start on 15 June and he had written to the Moldovan Government asking them to follow the Venice Commission's advice on future constitutional reform.
Ministers discussed Libya/Swiss bilateral dispute, which had resulted in Libya refusing visas to citizens of all Schengen countries. The High Representative undertook to give clear messages to the Swiss Foreign Minister at their meeting on 24 March.
Slovenia gave a short brief on the Brdo Western Balkans conference of 20 March reaffirming the leaders' commitment to joining the EU, meeting the required criteria and promoting good neighbourly relations.
Foreign Affairs Council and General Affairs Council
The General Affairs Council and Foreign Affairs Council met in joint session, chaired by the High Representative and the Presidency (Moratinos), to discuss the European External Action Service (EAS).
The High Representative presented progress so far. She committed to present her proposal shortly, noting this needed to be agreed by both the Council and the European Parliament. She hoped all institutions involved would recognise each others' perspectives and work together to deliver a coherent service. She highlighted the financial and staffing regulations and the budget as areas where a constructive approach was necessary. And Ministers should engage with national parliaments ahead of discussions with the European Parliament.
The Foreign Secretary set out the UK's support for the EAS as a shared project and a great opportunity. The EAS needed to have the capacity to add value and this should include having a complementary role on cross-cutting policy issues such as climate change and migration. He stressed the need for merit-based appointments.
The provisional text of the Council's discussion and agreed 'A' points can be found at: http://www.consilium.europa.eu/uedocs/cms_data/docs/pressdata/EN/genaff/113481.pdf
The Presidency (Moratinos) invited comments on the draft European Council Conclusions covering Europe 2020 and climate change.
Ministers discussed the Commission's proposals on competiveness, the setting of targets, the Stability and Growth Pact and financial regulation.
The Foreign Secretary stressed the need to send a clear signal about the EU's response to the economic crisis. We also needed to learn from the Lisbon strategy and work towards achievable, relevant targets that were set and owned at member state level.
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On climate change, the Foreign Secretary led a number of member states in stressing the need to maintain ambition, implement the Copenhagen accord and move forward on fast start financing and mitigation/adaptation.
Dinner with President Herman Van Rompuy
The President of the Council hosted a General Affairs Council dinner where Europe 2020, European Council working methods and external relations were discussed.
On Europe 2020, member states discussed the Commission's proposed targets in areas such as poverty and education and the need to reconcile these with national targets.
Finance Bill
Statement
The Financial Services Secretary to the Treasury (Lord Myners): My right honourable friend the Financial Secretary has made the following Written Ministerial Statement.
The Finance Bill will be published on Thursday 1 April. Explanatory Notes on the Bill will be available in the Vote Office and the Printed Paper Office and in the Libraries of both Houses on that day. Copies of the Explanatory Notes will be available on the Treasury's website.
Freedom of Information
Statement
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Ministry of Justice (Lord Bach): My right honourable friend the Minister of State, Ministry of Justice (Michael Wills) has made the following Written Ministerial Statement.
On 16 July 2009, I announced to this House the Government's intention to consult directly academy schools, the Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO), the Financial Ombudsman Service and the Universities and Colleges Admission Service (UCAS) with a view to including them within the Freedom of Information Act ("the Act") by bringing forward a Section 5 order under that Act.
Since this Government introduced the Act in 2005, it has given the public access to information held by over 100,000 public authorities. Section 5 of the Act gives the Secretary of State the power to make an order designating new bodies as public authorities for the purposes of the Act where those bodies appear to him to perform functions of a public nature. In accordance with our continuing commitment to openness and accountability in public life, I wish to announce to the House today the decision to extend the Act to all of the bodies consulted, in so far as they perform public functions.
Having carefully considered all the evidence, it is clear that all of the bodies listed above perform functions of a public nature. I have written to each of the bodies to explain the decision in detail, and to identify the functions to which the Act will apply. However the reasons in brief are as follows:
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ACPO's functions are concerned with providing leadership for the police force, improving policing, acting as a voice for the force, encouraging high standards of performance and development, providing the strategic police response in times of national need and other ancillary and related functions. Policing is clearly recognised as a function of a public nature. For these reasons it is appropriate to include ACPO in a Section 5 order for all of its functions.
The Financial Ombudsman Service resolves disputes between consumers and providers of financial services. It was established under a statutory scheme in order to provide consumers with a quick and informal alternative to the courts. We consider that the functions of FOS appear to be functions of a public nature and that it would be appropriate to include it in a Section 5 order.
UCAS provides its member university and colleges with admissions services. Without such services, those institutions, which are bodies listed as public authorities in either the Freedom of Information Act or the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act, would need to perform these functions for themselves, and the information would be captured by those Acts. As UCAS provides these services on behalf of its members, it is clear that UCAS does perform a function of a public nature.
Finally, although independent of local authority control, academies are publicly funded schools and a part of the state education system. Provision of state education is clearly a public function and parents and local residents should be able to access the same kind of information about academy schools as for any other state-funded school. The academy trust is the body responsible for the running of the academy school. In our view, the public functions of academies are those set out in the funding agreement signed between the academy trust and the Department for Children, Schools and Families: in short, the establishment, maintenance and carrying on of an academy. We propose to include academy trusts in a Section 5 order for these purposes from the point at which they enter into funding agreements.
The order will be laid and debated at the earliest possible opportunity in the next parliamentary Session, with the intention that it will commence in October 2011.
Freight Services Group: Targets
Statement
The Secretary of State for Transport (Lord Adonis): My honourable friend the Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Transport (Paul Clark) has made the following Ministerial Statement.
A range of high-level targets for the 2010-11 year has been set on behalf of the agencies within the Motoring and Freight Services Group: the Driving Standards Agency, the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency, the Vehicle Certification Agency, the Vehicle and Operator Services Agency and the Government Car and Despatch Agency. They are included in the agencies' business plans together with their associated measures. The plans also include a range of management
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The key targets for the Driving Standards Agency are:
Maintain the integrity and quality of the driving test by supervision of 95 per cent of examiners including delegated examiners and conducting a rolling programme of 120 quality assurance visits;To strengthen and modernise the way that people learn to drive we will: Develop proposals to modernise the driver training profession based on a syllabus and competence framework by September 2010; and Develop the research element of stage 1 of the learning trial by March 2011;Introduce an assessment of competence whilst driving independently across all main practical tests by October 2010;Make appointments available within 9 weeks at permanent car driving test centres-90 per cent ;Deliver the customer promises as set out in the agency business plan by March 2011;Achieve an additional £2 million of financial efficiency savings during 2010-11; andDeliver agreed financial plan in 2010-11.The key targets for the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency are:
Maintain the accuracy of the vehicle register so that a registered keeper can be traced from details held on record in 95 per cent of cases;Deliver the eight Department for Transport customer promises; Complete achievement of the £80.7 million three year target of efficiency savings for 2008-2011 by saving £36.2 million in 2010-11;Deliver financial performance agreed with DfT to at least balance income against expenditure for the 2010-11 year end accounts;Collect over £5 billion of VED (net of refunds) and through enforcement action exceed £100 million in additional VED collected for the period 2008-11; andIntroduce Continuous Insurance Enforcement (CIE) and have started to issue insurance advisory letters by 31 March 2011.The key targets for the Vehicle Certification Agency are:
Complete 90 per cent of system and component type approval certificates within nine working days;99 per cent of appraisal reports on our technical performance from independent panel members deemed to have no critical defects. (Note-suitable sample size to be determined);30 Mar 2010 : Column WS201
The key targets for the Vehicle and Operator Services Agency are:
Obtain agreement of and detailed plan for testing transformation:Obtain agreement to detailed plans for transferring testing to authorised testing facilities (ATFs) in 20 catchment areas; andCarry out sufficient marketing to deliver 40 new operational non-VOSA sites by 31/03/11;Deliver the eight customer service promises as set out in the VOSA business plan;In partnership with DfT (IHAC and LRI), determine a methodology to develop-and subsequently agree with DfT-an informed three-year target to 2013-14 to maintain or improve the trajectory of compliance with roadworthiness and traffic rules, using data gathered from past and future fleet compliance surveys;Deliver agreed financial plan for 2010-11; andAchieve £2.6 million financial efficiency savings during 2010-11 as part of the Comprehensive Spending Review delivery plan.The key targets for the Government Car and Despatch Agency are:
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