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Northern Ireland Office

Answer

Mr. Levitt: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what performance targets have been set for the Forest Service for the financial year 1999-2000. [84080] Marjorie Mowlam: The following Key targets have been set for the Forest Service for 1999-2000. To achieve 800 hectares of new planting in public and private sectors combined. To offer for sale 325,000 m{3} of timber. To maintain visitor numbers in charged areas at above 90 per cent. of the average level achieved over the last 5 years. To maintain the area of forest under sustainable management. To respond to 100 per cent. of written correspondence within 15 working days. To approve (or reject) 90 per cent. of applications under the Woodland Grant Scheme and Farm Woodland Premium Scheme within 8 weeks of receipt of a properly completed application form. To pay, following planting, 90 per cent. of grant claims within 8 weeks of receipt of a properly completed claim form. To determine the way forward for long-term partnerships with the wood processing industry (as recommended by the PFI study). To market test/contract out 15 per cent. of direct costs of forest operations. To achieve an outturn which meets the targeted net cost of the forestry programme. To achieve at least 3 per cent. efficiency savings. To control DRC and programme expenditure to within 1 per cent. of the final control totals. The Forest Service Business Plan for 1999-2000 will be placed in the Libraries of both Houses of Parliament at a later date.

Secondary information

Type

Written question

Reference

84080; 331 c171-2W

Session

1998-99

Subjects

Standards Forest Service

Contains statistics

Yes