Defence Vetting Agency

Thursday 14th July 2011 Written Statements

[The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Defence (Mr Andrew Robathan)]

Key priorities have been set for the chief executive of the Defence Vetting Agency (DVA) for financial year 2011-12 to deliver national security vetting and related services for Defence personnel and for contractors working for the Ministry of Defence. Vetting for its repayment customers across Government will be delivered against standards set in individual joint business agreements with the agency.

Following Defence reform, it is likely that vetting services will be provided under a new business model from 2012, and I expect the DVA to be disestablished as a next steps agency from April 2012. The following key priorities are for its final year of operation. They also reflect the introduction in March 2011 of a major new vetting management and information system (Cerberus). As is common in such substantial transition programmes, short-term operating difficulties have been encountered. These are, however, being resolved, and the expected benefits should be delivered within the period covered by the key priorities.

Maintaining quality

Key priority 1: External validation of quality of defence vetting cases.

To achieve at least a 98% satisfaction rating with 200 cases independently selected and reviewed from a random sample of security cleared (SC) and developed vetting (DV) cases completed in the preceding 12-month period.

Key priority 2: Delivering excellent customer service to all our customers.

To maintain customer service excellence accreditation.

Restoring service delivery

Key priority 3: For all routine defence cases received after 1 January:

a. 85% of counter-terrorism checks (CTCs) to be completed within 25 calendar days,

(improved from 30 days);

b. 85% of SCs to be completed within 25 calendar days, (improved from 30 days);

c. 85% of DVs to be completed within 95 calendar days, (improved from 100 days).

Key priority 4: For all defence priority cases received after 1 October:

a. 95% of CTCs and SCs to be completed within 10 calendar days, (no change);

b. 95% of DVs completed within 30 calendar days .(no change).

Key priority 5: Completing defence aftercare cases received or scheduled for action after 1 October:

a. Take into action all aftercare incident reports (AIRs) within seven calendar days of receipt, (no change);

b. Take into action 95% of scheduled aftercare within 30 calendar days of the scheduled date of review, (no change)

c. Taking into action (where appropriate) 95% of security appraisal reviews within 21 days of receipt, (no change).

The above timeliness targets represent net performance that excludes delays outside of the DVA’s control.

Business Improvement

Key priority 6: Business transformation

By 30 September 2011 produce a transition plan to implement the move to the Defence Business Support Organisation during autumn 2011, and remove agency status by 31 March 2012 (new).