National Measurement Office (Performance Targets)

Lord Willetts Excerpts

Monday 16th April 2012 Written Statements

[The Minister for Universities and Science (Mr David Willetts)]

I have tasked the National Measurement Office (NMO) to provide policy support to Ministers on measurement issues and a measurement infrastructure which enables innovation and growth, promotes trade and facilitates fair competition and the protection of consumers, health and the environment.

I have agreed with the NMO that their objectives for 2012-15 will be to:

1. Increase economic growth, innovation and social impact through a world class scientific measurement infrastructure.

2. Promote competition and fair trading by providing a modern legal measurement regime.

3. Provide good value for money metrology services.

4. Protect the interests of the public, business and the environment by enforcing relevant legislation.

The agency will also be expected to ensure that professional, value for money corporate services are provided to support delivery of the above objectives, inform good decision making and enhance its reputation in a robust control environment.

In support of these objectives I have set as specific ministerial targets the following for 2012-13:

1. Improve performance of the NMS programmes over this corporate plan period as measured by the value scorecard developed for this purpose (to be determined by a scorecard technique across all programmes developed to provide a basis for measuring this improvement).

2. Amend the Hallmarking Act to permit UK assay offices to operate overseas by October 2012.

3. Support business by ensuring 94% of meter examiner appointments, manufacturer authorisations/consents and modifications to meter approval and decisions are made within five business days of receipt of all necessary documentation.

4. Customer satisfaction is improved within certification services as shown by an increase of 5% in “very satisfied” customers for the last calendar year survey.

5. Achieve an increase in income of 5% for certification services from the 2011-12 financial year.

6. Generate a positive 3:1 net contribution to consumers and the environment as well as the low-carbon economy through the activities of the enforcement authority (to be measured by comparing the cost base against the value of products made compliant, withdrawn from the market or affected by a formal business improvement plan).

7. Reduce non-ring-fenced administration costs by 14% in cash terms over this corporate plan period (using as a baseline the original forecast for 2010-11, the level of reduction is the same as that planned for BIS).

8. Reduce overhead costs per non-overhead staff full-time equivalent by 2% in cash terms from the 2011-12 financial year (excluding technical laboratory costs).

The corporate plan period referred to is the financial years 2012-13 to 2014-15.