6.1 The Northern Ireland Court Service (the Court Service) was established in 1979, by the Judicature (Northern Ireland) Act 1978, as a separate civil service in Northern Ireland. Providing support for the administration of justice in Northern Ireland the Court Service employs some 750 staff across 21 court venues throughout Northern Ireland and at its headquarters in Belfast city centre.
6.2 The Director of the Court Service, Mr David A Lavery, who is directly accountable to Secretary of State for Constitutional Affairs (the Secretary of State), is the Head of the Department, Principal Accounting Officer and Accountant General of the Supreme Court of Judicature of Northern Ireland. In running the Department, the Director is supported by a Management Board comprising five Divisional Directors. The Management Board also includes a non-executive Director.
6.3 The work of the Court Service is:
6.4 The Court Service's Corporate Plan 2003-2006 sets out how the Court Service will provide quality public services against a backdrop of ongoing reform and change. The Court Service has set itself the goal of becoming a more community-facing organisation and this is reflected in the adoption of a new corporate aim of 'serving the community through the administration of justice'. The Corporate Plan 2003-2006, can be viewed at www.courtsni.gov.uk.
6.5 The Corporate Plan introduced four key themes supported by a number of strategic objectives. The four key themes are Reform; Modernisation; Responsiveness; and Empowerment. Business planning in support of these key themes also reflects targets in the Court Service Service Delivery Agreement, as required under the 2002 Spending Review, to improve the quality of services provided. The Court Service's Annual Report 2003/04 will report on business performance against each of these targets; summary of progress at 31 March 2004 is set out below.
6.6 The Court Service, together with the other criminal justice agencies, is responsible for implementing the recommendations of the Northern Ireland Criminal Justice Review. Many of the review recommendations are given legislative effect in the Justice (Northern Ireland) Act 2002.
The Court Service is working with the Northern Ireland Office on a new Justice Bill that will establish a Northern Ireland Judicial Appointments Commission (JAC). The Court Service is fully committed to working with the Criminal Justice Oversight Commissioner, Lord Clyde, who has responsibility for overseeing the implementation of the Criminal Justice Review recommendations.
6.7 The Court Service is responsible for the implementation of the Criminal Justice Review recommendations which relate to judicial appointments procedures. One such recommendation was the appointment of a Commissioner for Judicial Appointments for Northern Ireland to audit judicial appointments processes and handle complaints arising from the application of those processes.
6.8 In February 2003 the Commissioner for Judicial Appointments for Northern Ireland, Mr John Simpson OBE, published his first audit report of the existing processes. The Court Service is engaged with the Commissioner in a programme of reform and improvement to develop and enhance the judicial appointments process.
6.9 The Court Service created a new Judicial Services Division during 2003. This Division is responsible for the significant work programme that is required in preparation for the establishment of the new Judicial Appointments Commission and the establishment of the new judicial office of Lay Magistrate. The Division will also take forward the work associated with modernising the judicial appointments process as identified through the Criminal Justice Review report and by the Commissioner for Judicial Appointments for Northern Ireland.
6.10 A further recommendation of the Criminal Justice Review was the creation of an independent Criminal Justice Inspectorate responsible for ensuring the inspection of all aspects of the criminal justice system other than the courts. The Lord Chancellor subsequently agreed that alternative inspection arrangements should be established for the Court Service, and HM Magistrates' Courts Inspectorate for England and Wales agreed to undertake this role.
6.11 A programme of inspections has been agreed and consists of five linked inspections that will focus on the services provided to both the Court Service's internal and external customers. The inspections will be carried out between January 2004 and March 2005.
6.12 Work is ongoing to reform the Civil Justice System both in relation to the substantive law and court procedures. The Court Service is working with other Departments in relation to the Civil Partnerships Bill, the Gender Recognition Bill, Decriminalisation of Parking Enforcement, Inter-Country Adoption and a number of European initiatives.
6.13 During the year the Court Service commenced key aspects of the new Access to Justice (Northern Ireland) Order 2003 which provides the statutory basis for the reform of publicly-funded legal services in Northern Ireland. The most significant development during the year was the establishment of the Northern Ireland Legal Services Commission. Statutory responsibility for the administration of legal aid in Northern Ireland transferred from the Legal Aid Committee of the Law Society of Northern Ireland, to the Commission on 1 November 2003.
6.14 The Court Service undertook substantial preparatory work for the establishment of the Legal Services Commission including the appointment of the Chair, ten Commissioners and a Chief Executive. Other significant preparatory work included providing new accommodation and information technology for the Commission, and effecting the transfer of staff from the Legal Aid Department of the Law Society to the Commission. The Court Service continues to work closely with the Commission on the development of proposals for the future of publicly-funded legal services in Northern Ireland.
6.15 The Court Service has also been active in bringing forward legislation to ensure the availability of legal aid. Two significant developments during the year were the introduction of legal aid for youth conferences and the establishment of an exceptional grant power which can be used to make funding available for exceptional cases which would not otherwise attract funding.
6.16 The Court Service is developing proposals to reform the remuneration for publicly-funded criminal cases. New remuneration arrangements will be introduced during 2004/05. The initial focus of the work has been on fees payable to counsel in Crown Court cases. The next phase of the programme will be to develop proposals for the remuneration of solicitors in Crown Court cases and magistrates' court cases.
6.17 The report Death Certification and Investigation in England, Wales and Northern Ireland (The Luce Report) made a number of important recommendations for reform of coroners' services.
6.18 In Northern Ireland the Court Service has administrative responsibility for the coroners' service and initiated a period of public consultation on the Luce Report recommendations. These recommendations were welcomed by the majority of stakeholders.
6.19 Proposals outlining the Government's plans for reform of the coroners' service have been published by the Home Office. In the interim, the Court Service proposes to proceed with improvements in a number of areas of the coroners' service in Northern Ireland through a process of administrative redesign.
6.20 A consultation paper setting out proposals for administrative redesign of the coroners' service in Northern Ireland was published in February 2004.
6.21 Work in relation to the implementation of an Electronic Document and Record Management System continued throughout the year. This work resulted in a pilot system being introduced into the Court Funds Office in September 2003. Analysis of the results from this pilot will inform the plans for the rollout of the system across the Court Service in the coming year.
6.22 The implementation of the Integrated Court Operation System (ICOS) in support of civil, criminal and family court operations will support the achievement of some 5% efficiency gains. During 2003/04 the following ICOS modules became operational:
6.23 Since implementation, some 50% efficiency improvements have been realised in the jury management process. During the next 18 months the Court Service will progressively implement the remaining ICOS modules.
6.24 The Court Service has extended its courtroom technology programme to four locations across Northern Ireland. The response to the deployment of this new technology from the judiciary and the legal profession has been extremely encouraging. The judiciary are now able to conduct hearings from the courtroom using both video link technology and cost-effective telephone conferencing technology, reducing the need for parties to travel substantial distances.
6.25 In addition to its own IT modernisation programme, the Court Service is an important partner in the Causeway Programme, which will deliver significant improvements in the administration of criminal justice in Northern Ireland. These improvements will be achieved through improved electronic communication and information sharing between the criminal justice agencies in Northern Ireland. Causeway will be fully implemented by 2006.
6.26 Risk management was introduced in the Court Service during 2002/03. A formal review was carried out at the start of the year (2003/04) to evaluate the risk management process and identify areas for improvement. Following the review, an action plan was drawn up which included the development of a 'Blueprint for Risk' which gives prescriptive guidance to the operation of the Risk Management Policy.
6.27 There has been significant progress within the Court Service in terms of embedding risk management. The Accounting Officer's Statement on Internal Control will be informed by the assurances provided under the risk management system. A further review has now commenced in order to provide a level of assurance to the Accounting Officer.
6.28 The Court Service is committed to responding to the expectations of all court users by providing high-quality accessible services in a manner appropriate to a modern Government department. In pursuit of excellence in the delivery of a responsive public service the Court Service has committed to measurement against external standards.
6.29 The Court Service has a target to increase the efficiency of case management of civil business with 97% of all business being processed within the target times. Overall performance in this area is currently at 96%. The Integrated Court Operation System is currently rolling out and will further enhance business performance.
| Civil business | Within target |
| Ordinary Civil Bills - certificate of readiness to listing for hearing | 98% |
| Small Claims Default Decrees - receipt of Application for Default Decree or Notice of Acceptance of Liability to issue | 93% |
| Queen's Bench writs - setting down to listing for hearing | 100% |
| Chancery -listing of mortgage applications | 92% |
6.30 The Court Service has a target to increase the efficiency of case management of family business with 95% of all business being listed for hearing within the target times. Overall performance in this area is currently at 92%. Significant improvements in this area of business are expected in late 2005 when the family module of ICOS is implemented.
| Family business | Within target |
| Children Order - receipt of application to listing for hearing | 94% |
| Divorce - pleadings to decree Nisi awarded | 90% |
| Adoptions - receipt of application to listing for hearing | 95% |
6.31 The Court Service has a target to increase the efficiency of case management of criminal business with 80% of all business being processed within target times. Overall performance in this area is currently at 80%, largely as a result of work on Crown Court case listings and efforts at magistrates' court level. While the overall target has been attained, work is continuing to improve performance throughout the business areas.
| Criminal business | Within target |
| Papers received to listing for Court of Appeal defendants | 92% |
| Committal to arraignment for Crown Court defendants | 94% |
| Arraignment to start of hearing for Crown Court defendants | 84% |
| First hearing to disposal for adult magistrates' defendants | 80% |
| First hearing to date of finding for youth magistrates' defendants | 73% |
6.32 The Court Service successfully gained Investors in People re-accreditation in February 2004. This is the second time the Court Service has received IiP re-accreditation since it was first awarded Investors in People status in 2002. Fifty per cent of our main courthouses applied for Charter Mark accreditation in February 2004. A Charter Mark survey showed that almost 70% of customers rated the services as good to excellent. The remaining courthouses are committed to applying for Charter Mark status by 2006.
6.33 In 2002 the Enforcement of Judgments Office (EJO) embarked on a major change programme adopting the European Foundation Quality Model (EFQM) as the framework for development. In January 2004, the EJO was awarded the Bronze award under the Steps to Excellence scheme 2003. It has also attained British Standard BSI 7799 for information security management.
6.34 The Court Service's public Information Centre in Belfast city centre has also adopted EFQM to embark on a similar programme with a view to achieving recognition for excellence in the delivery of information services. The Centre's development programme will begin in April 2004.
6.35 The Court Service has improved service provision for child abduction cases by providing an internet site giving information to those whose child may have been wrongfully removed from Northern Ireland.
6.36 The Court Service is fully committed to delivering its responsibilities flowing from the Criminal Justice Review with regard to improving public information and understanding about the Criminal Justice System. The Communication and Outreach Strategies 2003-2006 underwent a three-month public consultation period in early 2003. Annual work programmes will be put in place to support the full implementation of the strategies by 2006.
6.37 During the past year, a range of resource material has been developed. The Court Service also established a Teachers Advisory Panel to assist with the development of school resource material. Work in 2004 will include the development of a heritage and education site on the Court Service website.
6.38 The Court Service's Outreach Programme is promoted widely with local schools and colleges. Visits to courts continue to be an integral part of the Outreach Programme with 42 school visits facilitated during 2003. Each year the Court Service also supports the national Magistrates' Courts Mock Trial Competition and the 2003 competition was won by a Northern Ireland school. During 2003 the Court Service also facilitated 39 pupil work placements at court offices.
6.39 During 2003 the Court Service committed to an extensive two-year programme of development for Level 3 (executive grade) and Level 4 (administrative grade) staff. Already over 65% of participants (some 267 staff) have registered an interest in undertaking a relevant professional management qualification (NVQ). This exceeds the requirements for Government departments to be leaders in the provision on occupational qualification as set out in the DfES White Paper Skills Strategy.
6.40 The Court Service has taken the lead among employers in Northern Ireland by developing an Employment Equality Action Plan in consultation with the Equality Commission for Northern Ireland. This plan details the specific actions to be taken during the period 2004-2006 to proactively encourage equality of opportunity and fair participation in employment.
6.41 Court Service staff are recruited mainly at, administrative officer and support grade level, and to posts requiring professional qualifications. Senior Civil Service posts (5 in 2003/04) are usually filled by open competition. In addition, it is proposed that Level 3 (Executive grade) staff will be recruited externally, for the first time, during business year 2004/05.
6.42 The Court Service recruitment practices comply with the Civil Service Commissioners' Recruitment Code and none of the permitted exceptions to the principles of fair and open competition are used. All recruitment schemes are monitored in accordance with the Equality Legislation.
6.43 The Court Service Accommodation Strategy provides for high-quality court accommodation across Northern Ireland. The Court Service estate ranges from the newly-built courthouses in Belfast and Dungannon through to the maintenance of a number of buildings listed for their architectural heritage. Laganside Courts in Belfast has taken its place as a landmark building in the newly developing 'Legal Quarter' in the city. This multi-court complex, which is the first of its kind in the United Kingdom, has already received three prestigious awards including the national Private Finance Initiative Award in 2000.
6.44 The refurbishment project to improve facilities for court users at the Royal Courts of Justice commenced in April 2003. The project is due for completion by March 2006 and will deliver improved administrative accommodation, a modern courtroom environment and better-quality facilities for court users.
6.45 An initial programme of works to comply with the requirements of the Disability Discrimination Act (DDA) was completed in December 2003. Work focused on access to court buildings and the availability of facilities such as disabled toilets and induction loops. A series of independent Access Audits have now been commissioned to review compliance and any subsequent works will be prioritised for completion by October 2004.
6.46 Sir Brian Kerr was appointed Lord Chief Justice of Northern Ireland in January 2004 following the appointment of Sir Robert Carswell as a Lord of Appeal in Ordinary. Other judicial appointments made during the period of this report included a High Court Judge, a County Court Judge and two Resident Magistrates.
6.47 The Department's Resource Accounts for the financial year ending on 31 March 2003 were published in November 2003. Copies of the published Resource Accounts may be purchased direct from the Stationery Office, the Stationery Office Bookshops and the Parliamentary Bookshop.
6.48 The Resource Accounts for 2002/03 contain an Operating
and Financial Review (OFR). The main aim of the OFR is to enable the reader
to understand the influences on the overall results and how they interrelate,
and their potential impact in the future.
The OFR for 2002/03 is designed to help the reader better understand what
the accounts show and what the Northern Ireland Court Service is trying
to achieve.
6.49 The data collection systems used for the determination of the performance against targets is both robust and timely. Data for numerically-based targets are collected and analysed according to the National Statistics standards. Information against the targets is usually available within six weeks after the end of the quarter. Non-statistical information is also monitored quarterly by an internal monitoring system.
| Table 1: Total public spending for the Northern Ireland Court Service | £000 | |||||||
| 1998/99 Outturn | 1999/00 Outturn | 2000/01 Outturn | 2001/02 Outturn | 2002/03 Outturn | 2003/04 Estimated Outturn | 2004/05 Outturn | 2005/06 Outturn | |
| Consumption of resouces: | ||||||||
| Courts, other legal services and legal aid |
47,993 | 65,145 | 72,890 | 82,986 | 99,256 | 112,211 | 100,807 | 101,735 |
| Total resource budget | 47,993 | 65,145 | 72,890 | 82,986 | 99,256 | 112,211 | 100,807 | 101,735 |
| of which | ||||||||
| Resource DEL (1) |
47,993 | 65,145 | 72,890 | 82,986 | 99,256 | 112,211 | 100,807 | 101,735 |
| Capital spending: | ||||||||
| Courts, other legal services and legal aid |
4,635 | 1,547 | 2,569 | 9,901 | 9,631 | 5,795 | 6,000 | 6,000 |
| Total capital budget | 4,635 | 1,547 | 2,569 | 9,901 | 9,631 | 5,795 | 6,000 | 6,000 |
| of which | ||||||||
| Capital DEL (1) |
4,635 | 1,547 | 2,569 | 9,901 | 9,631 | 5,795 | 6,000 | 6,000 |
| Total public spending (2) | 52,628 | 63,068 | 71,621 | 88,930 | 103,061 | 111,656 | 100,457 | 101,385 |
| (1) Departmental Expenditure Limits,
set as part of the 2002 Spending Review. (2) Total public spending calculated as the total of the resource budget plus the capital budget, less depreciation. |
||||||||
| Table 2: Resource budget: DEL and AME (voted and non-voted) | £000 | |||||||
| 1998/99 Outturn | 1999/00 Outturn | 2000/01 Outturn | 2001/02 Outturn | 2002/03 Outturn | 2003/04 Estimated Outturn | 2004/05 Plans | 2005/06 Plans | |
| Resource DEL | ||||||||
| Voted in Estimate entitled: Northern Ireland Court Service | ||||||||
| Courts, other legal services and legal aid |
||||||||
| Court and other legal services |
||||||||
| RfR 1A | 9,744 | 22,514 | 26,609 | 31,679 | 47,467 | 46,857 | 53,953 | 54,881 |
| Publicly-funded legal services |
||||||||
| RfR 1 | 34,148 | 38,073 | 41,490 | 46,038 | 49,841 | 34,085 | – | – |
| Total voted | 43,892 | 60,587 | 68,099 | 77,717 | 97,308 | 80,942 | 53,953 | 54,881 |
| Non-voted | ||||||||
| Courts, other legal services and legal aid |
||||||||
| Total non-voted | 4,101 | 4,558 | 4,791 | 5,269 | 1,948 | 31,269 | 46,854 | 46,854 |
| Total resource DEL | 47,993 | 65,145 | 72,890 | 82,986 | 99,256 | 112,211 | 100,807 | 101,735 |
| Total resource budget | 47,993 | 65,145 | 72,890 | 82,986 | 99,256 | 112,211 | 100,807 | 101,735 |
| of which | ||||||||
| Voted |
43,892 | 60,587 | 68,099 | 77,717 | 97,308 | 80,942 | 53,953 | 54,881 |
| Non-voted |
4,101 | 4,558 | 4,791 | 5,269 | 1,948 | 31,269 | 46,854 | 46,854 |
| and of which | ||||||||
| Central government own spending |
47,993 | 65,145 | 72,890 | 82,986 | 99,256 | 112,211 | 100,807 | 101,735 |
| NB Voted net resource outturn in Estimate entitled: Northern Ireland Court Service | ||||||||
| Resource DEL in Estimates: | ||||||||
| Resource DEL in budgets |
43,892 | 60,587 | 68,099 | 77,717 | 97,308 | 80,942 | 53,953 | 54,881 |
| Total resource consumption in Estimate | 43,892 | 60,587 | 68,099 | 77,717 | 97,308 | 80,942 | 53,953 | 54,881 |
| Notes: DEL limits in this table are consistent with definitions used in the 2002 Spending Review. Figures for DEL limits consistent with definitions used in the 2000 Spending Review are shown in table 4. Voted DEL and AME excludes any EU receipts included in DEL and AME in Estimates. |
||||||||
| Table 3: Capital budget: DEL and AME (voted and non-voted) | £000 | |||||||
| 1998/99 Outturn | 1999/00 Outturn | 2000/01 Outturn | 2001/02 Outturn | 2002/03 Outturn | 2003/04 Estimated Outturn | 2004/05 Plans | 2005/06 Plans | |
| Capital DEL | ||||||||
| Voted in Estimate entitled: Northern Ireland Court Service | ||||||||
| Courts, other legal services and legal aid |
||||||||
| Court and other legal services |
||||||||
| RfR 1A |
4,635 | 1,547 | 2,569 | 9,901 | 9,631 | 5,795 | 6,000 | 6,000 |
| Total voted | 4,635 | 1,547 | 2,569 | 9,901 | 9,631 | 5,795 | 6,000 | 6,000 |
| Total capital DEL | 4,635 | 1,547 | 2,569 | 9,901 | 9,631 | 5,795 | 6,000 | 6,000 |
| Total capital budget | 4,635 | 1,547 | 2,569 | 9,901 | 9,631 | 5,795 | 6,000 | 6,000 |
| of which | ||||||||
| Voted |
4,635 | 1,547 | 2,569 | 9,901 | 9,631 | 5,795 | 6,000 | 6,000 |
| Non-voted |
4,101 | 4,558 | 4,791 | 5,269 | 1,948 | 31,269 | 46,854 | 46,854 |
| and of which | ||||||||
| Central government own spending | 4,635 | 1,547 | 2,569 | 9,901 | 9,631 | 5,795 | 6,000 | 6,000 |
| NB Voted net capital in Estimate entitled: Northern Ireland Court Service | ||||||||
| Capital DEL in budgets |
4,635 | 1,547 | 2,569 | 9,901 | 9,631 | 5,795 | 6,000 | 6,000 |
| Grants to NDPBs to finance their spending |
– | – | – | – | – | 25,583 | 41,168 | 41,168 |
| Total capital consumption in Estimate | 4,635 | 1,547 | 2,569 | 9,901 | 9,631 | 31,378 | 47,168 | 47,168 |
| Notes: DEL limits in this table are consistent with definitions used in the 2002 Spending Review. Figures for DEL limits consistent with definitions used in the 2000 Spending Review are shown in table 4. Voted DEL and AME excludes any EU receipts included in DEL and AME in Estimates. |
||||||||
| Table 4: Resource and capital budget DEL and AME, on previous definitions of resource accounting and budgeting used in the 2000 Spending Review | £000 | ||||
| 1998/99 Outturn | 1999/00 Outturn | 2000/01 Outturn | 2001/02 Outturn | 2002/03 Outturn | |
| Resource budget | |||||
| Resource DEL |
|||||
| Courts, other legal services and legal aid |
47,467 | 57,496 | 64,707 | 73,938 | 85,180 |
| Resource AME |
|||||
| Courts, other legal services and legal aid |
526 | 7,307 | 8,183 | 9,048 | 14,076 |
| of which |
|||||
| non-cash items |
526 | 7,307 | 8,183 | 9,048 | 14,076 |
| Total Resource Budget | 47,993 | 64,803 | 72,890 | 82,986 | 99,256 |
| Capital Budget | |||||
| Capital DEL |
|||||
| Courts, other legal services and legal aid |
4,635 | 1,889 | 2,569 | 9,901 | 9,631 |
| Total Capital Budget | 4,635 | 1,889 | 2,569 | 9,901 | 9,631 |
| Table 5: Northern Ireland Court Service Capital Employed | £000 | |||||||
| 1998/99 Outturn | 1999/00 Outturn | 2000/01 Outturn | 2001/02 Outturn | 2002/03 Outturn | 2003/04 Outturn Estimated | 2004/05 Plans | 2005/06 Plans | |
| Fixed assets | 105,517 | 105,107 | 111,745 | 150,539 | 164,405 | 173,714 | 185,484 | 194,401 |
| of which: |
||||||||
| Tangible assets | ||||||||
| Land and buildings |
104,274 | 103,955 | 110,047 | 145,701 | 158,098 | 166,639 | 177,717 | 189,346 |
| Plant and machinery and IT |
318 | 13 | 509 | 3,494 | 3,675 | 4,998 | 5,890 | 3,388 |
| Furniture and Fittings |
925 | 1,139 | 1,189 | 1,164 | 1,380 | 1,291 | 1,541 | 1,617 |
| Intangible assets | ||||||||
| Software licences and development |
– | – | – | 180 | 1,252 | 786 | 336 | 50 |
| Current assets |
4,010 | 6,050 | 8,138 | 8,328 | 10,994 | 11,114 | 11,238 | 9,972 |
| Creditors (<1 year) |
(6,322) | (8,577) | (12,141) | (11,789) | (14,046) | (9,005) | (8,914) | (8,784) |
| Creditors (>1 year) |
0 | 0 | 0 | (24,621) | (25,190) | (25,532) | (25,749) | (25,841) |
| Provisions | (526) | (384) | (817) | (1,040) | (764) | (820) | (733) | (664) |
| Capital employed within main department | 102,679 | 102,196 | 106,925 | 121,417 | 135,399 | 149,471 | 161,326 | 169,084 |
| NDPB net assets |
– | – | – | – | – | – | – | – |
| Legal Aid Fund net assets |
– | – | – | – | – | – | – | |
| Total capital employed in departmental group | 102,679 | 102,196 | 106,925 | 121,417 | 135,399 | 149,471 | 161,326 | 169,084 |
Northern Ireland Court Service
9-15 Bedford Street
Belfast
BT2 7LT
T: +44 (0)28 9032 8594
F: +44 (0)28 9041 2390
| Table 6: Administration costs for Northern Ireland Court Service | £000 | |||||||
| 1998/99 Outturn | 1999/00 Outturn | 2000/01 Outturn | 2001/02 Outturn | 2002/03 Outturn | 2003/04 Estimated Outturn | 2004/05 Plans | 2005/06 Plans | |
| Gross administration costs | ||||||||
| Other |
4,408 | 4,298 | 8,738 | 13,405 | 10,301 | 13,339 | 13,339 | 13,339 |
| Paybill |
4,517 | 4,606 | 5,684 | 5,878 | 5,170 | 6,666 | 7,666 | 8,342 |
| Total gross administration costs | 8,925 | 8,904 | 14,422 | 19,283 | 15,471 | 20,005 | 21,005 | 21,681 |
| Related administration cost receipts | –13,045 | –11,248 | –13,554 | –12,442 | –10,942 | –15,942 | –10,942 | –10,942 |
| Total net administration costs | –4,120 | –2,344 | 868 | 6,841 | 4,529 | 4,063 | 10,063 | 10,739 |
| Analysis by activity: Departments to insert a description or breakdown of net admin costs by activity / function, preferably in the same format as their common core spending tables 1 - 3. (This breakdown must add up to total net admin costs as shown here:) |
||||||||
| Total net administration costs | –4,120 | –2,344 | 868 | 6,841 | 4,529 | 4,063 | 10,063 | 10,739 |
| Controls and limits: Administration costs limits (net) for gross controlled areas: Departments to insert details of any admin costs limits (net) for gross controlled areas (These details of net limits for gross controlled areas must add up to the total limits for gross controlled areas shown here:) |
||||||||
| Total net limits for gross controlled areas | –4,120 | –2,344 | 868 | 6,841 | 4,529 | 4,063 | 10,063 | 10,739 |
| Table 7: Staff Numbers | ||||||||
| 1998/99 Outturn | 1999/00 Outturn | 2000/01 Outturn | 2001/02 Outturn | 2002/03 Outturn | 2003/04 Estimated Outturn | 2004/05 Plans | 2005/06 Plans | |
| Northern Ireland Court Service (3) | ||||||||
| CS FTEs | 628 | 638 | 655 | 691 | 710 | 757 | 757 | 757 |
| Overtime | 10 | 9 | 19 | 115 | 7 | 6 | 6 | 6 |
| Casuals | 24 | 20 | 37 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Total | 662 | 667 | 711 | 808 | 718 | 763 | 763 | 763 |
| (3) The staff of the Northern Ireland Court Service are not part of the Home Civil Service and therefore are not included in the Civil Service staffing count. | ||||||||
6.50 Her Majesty's Land Registry, a separate Government Department since 1862, was established as an Executive Agency in July 1990 and as a Trading Fund in April 1993. Land Registry is wholly self-financing and therefore makes no call on public funds under normal operating procedures.
6.51 Land Registry operates through 24 land registry offices located throughout England and Wales; a London-based Headquarters, the Land Charges and Agricultural Credits Departments and an Information Systems Group (based in Plymouth).
6.52 Land Registry's main function is to maintain and develop a register of title to freehold and leasehold land throughout England and Wales. On behalf of the Crown, Land Registry guarantees title to registered estates and interests in land. Land Registry is also responsible for maintaining registers of land charges, pending actions, writs and orders affecting land and other encumbrances registered under the Land Charges Act 1972 and a register of short-term loans by banks secured on farming stock and other agricultural assets under part II of the Agricultural Credits Act 1928.
6.53 The Land Register is a record of all land ownership that has been registered in England and Wales. Each register of title has its own number (the title number) and contains a description of the property, the name and address of the registered proprietor and other details such as mortgages and rights that may affect the property adversely. The register also includes a title plan, showing the location and extent of each registered title.
6.54 Once a piece of land is registered with Land Registry:
6.55 In addition, anyone who suffers financial loss because of errors in the register, official copies and official searches of the register, has the right, subject to certain conditions, to receive compensation from Land Registry.
6.56 Disputed applications to Land Registry are determined by the Adjudicator to HM Land Registry, an independent office created by the Land Registration Act 2002. (Under previous Land Registration legislation, this function was the responsibility of the Chief Land Registrar).
6.57 Since December 1990, the Land Register has been open to the public and for a fee anyone can inspect the register, find out the name and address of the current owner of any registered property or obtain a copy of any registered title. The growing demand for land and property information is apparent from the wide interest shown in our Residential Property Price Reports. These are produced free of charge each quarter and provide average prices and volumes of sales for all counties or county boroughs in England and Wales. They are available from our website at www.landregistry.gov.uk.
6.58 We also provide on request more specific bespoke reports covering local authorities, postal areas, districts and sectors. A fee is charged for this service. Further information can be obtained from our property information centre on +44 (0)0151 473 6010.
6.59 Under the Land Registration Act 2002, Land Registry is able to pursue additional statutory functions relating to the provision of land and property information, consultancy/advisory and training/education services relating to land registration. It will also be able to provide services facilitating the process of electronic conveyancing.
6.60 Land Registry's mission is to provide the world's best service for guaranteeing ownership of land and facilitating property transactions.
6.61 Land Registry's Quinquennial Review report, published in June 2001, made over 120 recommendations that would both further enhance the Registry's already creditable reputation and assist the Government in its drive to modernise land and property markets.
6.62 It was recognised by the independent Reviewer that some of the recommendations could take several years to meet, the prime example being the completion of the Land Register for England and Wales. As a consequence, we constructed a 10-year strategy that would enable us to plan our business development towards the achievement of such longer-term plans. It is a rolling Plan, updated each year and supported by an Annual Business Plan. Both Plans can be viewed on Land Registry's website (www.strategy.landregistry.gov.uk).
6.63 The Strategic Plan is built around the following eight strategic objectives:
6.64 Under the terms of our Framework Document, we present our Annual Report and Accounts to Parliament before the summer recess. The Annual Report and Accounts for 2002/03 was published in September 2003 and contains details of the Registry's Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) and other wider business measures.
6.65 The following tables show our Key Performance targets for 2003/04 with the latest forecast outturn. The actual outturn will be published in our Annual Report and Accounts for 2003/04. Table 1 shows the targets and forecast outturn. Table 2 provides explanations for the information in Table 1.
6.66 We are constantly working to improve the efficiency of our services. With Treasury agreement, we aim to reduce unit costs in real terms to £21.17 by the end of 2006/07. The figures shown for 2004/05 and 2005/06 in Table 3: Unit Costs in Cash Terms are the planned milestones (in cash terms) towards the achievement of that target. Our milestone for 2003/04 is to achieve a cost per unit in cash terms of £29.28.
6.67 The business of the Land Registry is demand-led and the volume of transactions can be affected by a number of factors including domestic and commercial conveyancing activity, the growth in owner occupation and the buoyancy of the secured credits market. Our unit output (actual and planned) is shown in Table 4.
6.68 The Land Registration Act 2002 and the associated Land Registration Rules 2003 came into force on 13 October 2003. The new Act, the outcome of six years' work by the Law Commission, Land Registry and the Department for Constitutional Affairs, lays the foundations on which electronic conveyancing will be built.
6.69 In order to meet the public's desire for a quicker and a more transparent and certain home-buying and selling process we are progressing a ministerially-approved programme of work that will develop and deliver a re-engineered and fully electronic conveyancing system. Key features of the system include:
6.70 Land Registry Direct is an online service, provided through a secure extranet environment and, from March 2004, through the internet, that allows access to Land Registry data.
6.71 Land Register Online was launched as
a pilot in March 2003 and has proved very successful to date. Aimed at members
of the general public, the service provides secure access through the internet,
giving the facility to view over 19 million registers of title, make applications
for Searches of the Index Map, and provide online feedback.
6.72 Land Registry is one of a number of key data providers to National Land Information Service and has recently processed the millionth search through this service. Available through the internet, the service offers many similar facilities to Land Registry Direct. It allows people quick and easy access to authoritative, accurate and comprehensive information on all land and property in the UK. Further information can be found at www.nlis.org.uk.
6.73 Land Registry is working with Ordnance Survey, Royal Mail, Registers of Scotland, the Valuation Office Agency and the Local Government Information House on Project Acacia. This project aims to develop and maintain a single national infrastructure of definitive addresses, street names, non-addressable properties, land ownership and occupancy parcels and other property information, related to definitive mapping, and linked together so that users with one piece of information can readily access other information as well. This infrastructure will provide a key building block that will underpin delivery of electronic services.
6.74 We are committed to delivering high-quality and responsive land registration services and to improving those services to meet our customers' needs. Our Statement of Service Standards is published in our Annual Report and Accounts and as a separate document. Key targets and details of our performance against those targets are displayed in the Customer Information Centre at every office.
6.75 We have carried out formal customer surveys every year since 1989 and suggested areas for improvement from these surveys are built into our planning processes, whenever practical to do so. Recent surveys indicate that overall satisfaction with Land Registry continues to be exceptionally high.
6.76 We are one of a handful of organisations to have been awarded the Charter Mark on four consecutive occasions and are working towards the achievement of a fifth in 2004.
6.77 We have an Independent Complaints Reviewer, Mrs Jodi Berg, who conducts impartial investigations of complaints from customers who are dissatisfied with the service they have received from us and have not been satisfied by our internal complaints procedures. Recommendations for improvement may result which are accepted wherever possible. The Independent Complaints Reviewer's annual report is available from: New Premier House, 150 Southampton Row, London WC1B 5AL. Tel: 020 7278 6251.
6.78 Staff are our major asset (see Table 5 for staff numbers) and their unique skills and expertise in the field of land registration continue to be key to our success. We:
6.79 A new appointment (Rodney Stewart-Smith) was recently made to the Land Registry Rule Committee to replace Edward Cousins, who was appointed as Adjudicator in October 2003. We also have two non-executive Directors on the Land Registry Directing Board.
6.80 Annual internal reviews against the Investor in People standard continue to take place in each office. These have recently been integrated into our European Foundation for Quality Management Excellence Model self-assessment exercises. They help to identify areas for improvement and facilitate the spread of better practice in training and development.
6.81 Land Registry has a recognised course on land registration law and its underpinning property law - Qualification in Land Registration Law and Practice. It also covers Land Registry legal and plans practice. There are two levels: a one year Certificate course at A level standard and a two-year Diploma course at degree standard. There is a comprehensive manual for each year of the course. The course is delivered by distance learning supported by study events which include lectures and discussion groups.
6.82 In April 2003 a further eight business units were successfully audited against ISO14001 and added to the five sites already on the Land Registry certificate. The remaining 12 business units along with our Information Services Group and associated mainframe sites in Plymouth will begin implementation of the Environmental Management System in April 2004 and should be added to the certificate in January 2005.
| Target 2003/04 |
Forecast | |
| Financial | ||
| To deliver a return on average capital employed, payable as a dividend to the Consolidated Fund | 6% | Exceed target |
| Efficiency | ||
| Cost per unit in real terms | £22.17 | £20.05 |
| Cost per unit in cash terms (4) | £29.28 | £26.46 |
| 'Service First' Standards | ||
| Speed | ||
| Percentage of office copy and official search applications processed within two working days | 98 | Exceed target |
| Percentage of all registrations processed within 20 working days | 80 | Exceed target |
| Accuracy | ||
| Percentage of registrations processed free of any error | 98.5 | Exceed target |
| Overall satisfaction | ||
| Percentage of customers who, overall, are very satisfied/satisfied with the full range of services provided by the Land Registry | Better than 94 | Exceed target |
| Strategic | ||
| Start pilot implementation for e-discharges | Achieved December 2003 | |
| Make all key Land Information services available over the internet | Achieved January 2004 | |
| Percentage of titles in the Land Register capable of electronic delivery | 100 | 100 |
| Critical action points | ||
| Implement the Land Registration Act 2002 | Achieved 13 October 2003 | |
| Report to Ministers on proposals for e-conveyancing services and procurement strategy | 2 February 2004 | |
(4) Based on GDP deflator issued by HM Treasury on 17 March 2004.
| Target | Technical note |
| Financial Percentage return on average capital employed |
The operating surplus for the year as shown in the Income and Expenditure account (after taking into account the profit or loss on disposal of capital assets) expressed as a percentage of the average of net assets for the current and previous year. It is payable as a dividend to the Consolidated Fund. |
| Efficiency Cost per unit in real terms (5) |
The cost per unit in real terms is the cost per unit in cash terms (see below) divided by the forecast Gross Domestic Product (GDP) deflator published by HM Treasury. |
| Cost per unit in cash terms (6) | The cost per unit in cash terms is defined as the total operating costs on an accruals basis, excluding the cost of accepted indemnity claims, Commonhold, e-conveyancing and Index Map vectorisation, divided by the units of workload processed. (A unit is a comparative measurement of the cost and the effort required to process any category of application handled by the Land Registry). |
| 'Service First' Standards Speed Percentage of office copy and official search applications processed within two working days and |
Office copies and official searches of the land register are time-sensitive applications made at the start of the conveyancing process. Measurement is an average of monthly 'snapshots'. |
| Percentage of all registrations processed within 20 working days | 'Registrations' are defined as all substantive applications for registration received, including those subsequently delayed through incomplete/incorrect lodgement. Measurement is an average of monthly 'snapshots'. |
| Accuracy Percentage of registrations processed free of any error |
Measurement is by continuous monthly recording of errors returned by customers for correction, as a percentage of all registrations processed. |
| Customer satisfaction Percentage of customers who, overall, are very satisfied/satisfied with the full range of services provided by the Land Registry |
Measurement is by continuous monthly monitoring through customer questionnaires and through the annual customer survey. |
| Delivery of electronic services Percentage of key services capable of electronic delivery |
The key land registration applications capable of electronic delivery
are:
By the end of 2002/03, 60% of all services will be capable of electronic delivery with 100% by 2004/05. |
(5) These are milestones towards the HM Treasury-agreed cost per unit target for 2006/07 of £21.17 (real terms) and £30.13 (cash terms).
(6) The inflation factor for the cost per unit in cash terms is derived from the GDP indices announced by HM Treasury (base year 1992/93).
| 2000/01 actual | 2001/02 actual | 2002/03 actual | 2003/04 forecast | 2004/05 milestone | 2005/06 milestone |
| £28.57 | £26.67 | £24.48 | £26.46 | £28.95 | £30.13 |
Note:
The cost of completing each unit of work is calculated by dividing Land Registry's operational expenditure in any period by the number of units of work completed during that period.
| 1999/00 actual | 2000/01 actual | 2001/02 actual | 2002/03 actual | 2003/04 forecast | 2004/05 plans | 2005/06 plans | |
| Work received | 8,790 | 9,400 | 10,682 | 12,747 | 12,300 | 11,939 | 12,400 |
| Output | 8,764 | 9,194 | 10,756 | 12,783 | 12,300 | 11,939 | 12,400 |
| Staff numbers | 1998/99 actual | 1999/00 actual | 2000/01 actual | 2001/02 actual | 2002/03 actual | 2003/04 forecast | 2004/05 plans | 2005/06 plans |
| Civil Service full time equivalents | 7,839 | 7,772 | 7,767 | 7,690 | 7,950 | 8,102 | 8,014 | 8,014 |
HM Land Registry
Lincoln's Inn Fields
London
WC2A 3PH
T: +44 (0)20 7917 8888
F: +44 (0)20 7955 0110
6.83 In April 2003 the Public Record Office and the Historical Manuscripts Commission, formerly a Non-Departmental Public Body under the Department of Culture, Media and Sport, came together to form The National Archives (TNA). The new organisation is a Government Department and Executive Agency under the Secretary of State for Constitutional Affairs. The Chief Executive of the TNA is both Keeper of Public Records and sole Historical Manuscripts Commissioner.
6.84 The National Archives for England, Wales and the United Kingdom operates the UK public records system under the Public Records Acts of 1958 and 1967 and exercises the powers accorded to the Historical Manuscripts Commission in relation to other archives, which are set out in the Royal Warrant of 2003. TNA act as the custodian of the nation's collective memory as revealed in the records of government. In addition, TNA collects and disseminates information about archives relating to British history wherever they are to be found.
6.85 The records TNA keeps span over a thousand years, from the Domesday Book to the latest releases of modern government papers. There are over 1,200 institutions holding archives throughout the UK, and TNA proactively collects information about their holdings, including the arrangements which they make for records storage and public access. TNA gives impartial advice to private owners on the care of their collections and are consulted by a wide range of grant-awarding bodies on applications relating to archives. TNA also advises the relevant government bodies about the acceptance of manuscripts in lieu of tax.
6.86 The aims of TNA are three-fold:
6.87 TNA is working to achieve four strategic objectives, which are set out in detail in TNA's Service Delivery Agreement for the period 2003/06:
6.88 Every year TNA proposes a corporate plan for the next three years, and a more detailed business plan for the forthcoming year, for the approval of the Secretary of State. The business plans for 2004/05 will address three key strategic themes in particular:
| (1) Records management and selection | |
| TNA continues to work closely with other departments to ensure that records are effectively managed, that the business benefits of Electronic Records Management are fully released, and that records of enduring historical value are selected for permanent preservation irrespective of their format. |
| Target | Performance |
| To develop effective and efficient records management of active records to support government business operation | Reports are submitted to the Secretary of State every six months, outlining each Government Department's progress towards meeting the target of introducing Electronic Records Management systems by 2004. TNA also helps the minority of departments whose progress has been rather sluggish by delivering a programme of workshops and by developing action plans. Now that many departments are beginning to create 'born digital' records on a large scale as a result of meeting the 2004 target, TNA is laying the foundations of a strategy for the sustainability of these records. TNA is also developing guidance to departments on the appraisal of electronic records and the development of file plans suitable for ERM systems. |
| To improve the selection of public records for permanent preservation for the benefit of the public and of Government | TNA's Acquisition and Disposition Policies lay down the general principles of their selection work, and detailed quality standards, known as operational selection policies, apply these principles to particular themes or groups of records. In developing quality standards, TNA work in close consultation with Government Departments and other stakeholders. All quality standards are circulated in draft to academics and specialist interest groups for comment. The draft standard is also placed on TNA's website for general public consultation. TNA has either published or drafted 27 standards to date, and remain on course to meet their target of completing 36 policies by March 2006. Already over 10% of the records which TNA is now accessioning have been selected in accordance with one of these quality standards. |
| To ensure that TNA's policies for records selection are socially inclusive | TNA intend to publish guidelines about criteria governing the selection of records relating the interaction of the State with the individual. An expert member of staff has been appointed to take this initiative forward, and a timetable and framework programme are currently in preparation. TNA will produce a draft for public consultation and issue a final version by the end of March 2005. |
| (2) Preservation | |
| TNA continues to store, catalogue and preserve the public records in traditional and new media, so that it can pass on the nation's recorded heritage to future generations. | |
| Target | Performance |
| To improve the preservation of the public records kept on traditional media | For many years a significant quantity of selected public records which were not in high public demand were out-housed in conditions which did not meet all aspects of the British Standard on archival storage (BS 5454: 2000). TNA has now secured alternative accommodation, which complies with the Standard in full, and TNA will move all its low usage records there by the end of March 2004. |
| To make arrangement for the permanent preservation of government digital records of enduring historical value | TNA has set up a Digital Archive at Kew, in readiness for the increasing flow of 'born digital' records from Government Departments. This will enable departments to transfer selected electronic records to TNA earlier than they currently do in respect of paper files and will also simplify their accessioning process. Users can already consult some of these records from computer terminals in the reading rooms at Kew and it is TNA's intention to make this possible in due course for online users throughout the world. |
| (3) Access | |
| TNA is maintaining its standards of excellence in the area of onsite public services at Kew and the Family Records Centre, while continuing to achieve rapid growth of its online services for a worldwide audience. | |
| Target | Performance |
| To extend the range and improve the quality of TNA's online public services | It is in the area of online services that the prospects for the continuing growth of TNA's business are most promising. In the year 2002/03 the PRO and HMC websites together provided over 85 million page impressions to users. The former was regularly among the top five Government websites in terms of UK usage, and attracted many overseas users as well. It is now possible for users to access digital images of wills in TNA's custody from 1384 to 1858. TNA now intends to bring together the PRO and HMC online services in a single website, which will offer users flexible topic and functional searching and which will put the distinctive new brand of TNA on prominent display. The new website will be launched later this year. |
| To improve the quality and efficiency of TNA's onsite public services | In the area of onsite services TNA strives to maintain its high standards and to make sure that PRO and HMC services integrate for the benefit of users. TNA regularly achieves satisfaction ratings of above 90% in its reader surveys and about 99% of all written enquiries are answered within 10 working days. TNA has also introduced self-service digital copying facilities and document lockers. The PRO currently holds the Charter Mark Award and in autumn 2004 TNA intend to apply for re-accreditation for a further three years. |
| To promote the public records as a national information and learning resource to the widest possible audience | Every year TNA continues to add at least one new online exhibition to its Learning Curve gallery, which is aimed at school pupils and teachers following the history national curriculum. In addition, TNA is carrying out major improvements to three existing exhibitions so that they will remain in line with the latest audience needs and expectations. Good progress has been made with the redesign of TNA's online Museum, which will be relaunched at the same time as its new website. |
| To raise an awareness of TNA's holdings among under-represented groups in their user profile by means of a rigourous social inclusion programme | TNA's major achievement in this area so far has been the 'Moving Here' project, which provides online content relating to the experience of immigration to the United Kingdom for various groups since the mid-19th century. Working in partnership with 30 museums, libraries and archives, TNA has played the leading role in this project, which received a substantial grant from the New Opportunities Fund. As well as ensuring the long-term sustainability and further development of the 'Moving Here' website, TNA now plans to welcome more schoolchildren from socially deprived areas to TNA, and to increase the proportion of TNA staff from the ethnic minorities to 20%. |
| To promote awareness of, and access to archival sources relating to British History | The main way TNA does this is to ensure that the National Register of Archives (NRA), the comprehensive database relating to the location of archival sources for British history maintained by the Historical Manuscripts Commission, is kept fully up to date. New information is added to the NRA every year, as a result of a survey of new accessions to over 200 archive services throughout the UK. In addition, plans are well under way to link the NRA with the electronic catalogue for public records and other components of the national archive network. |
| (4) Advice | |
| Building on TNA's experience of records management in Central Government, TNA is now providing records management advice to local authorities and the wider public sector on an increasingly large scale. | |
| Target | Performance |
| To develop standards and guidance for archive and records management professionals and to promote and monitor their use | TNA has created a Records Management Advisory Service, which has the remit of providing guidance to local authorities and the wider public sector on ways of improving records management and of sharing the lessons learnt by Central Government during the introduction of ERM systems. In May 2003 TNA held a national conference to launch this service, and TNA is now implementing a detailed support programme. TNA continues to visit and, on occasion, to inspect more formally record offices and other institutions holding historical archives and has prepared a common standards framework for its advisory, audit and inspection functions which TNA will finalise by the end of March 2004. |
6.89 In addition to working towards these targets, TNA has been tasked with taking forward a review of existing records and archives legislation as part of the Government Archives Policy Action Plan and to co-ordinate implementation of the Action Plan.
6.90 The main outcome of the Action Plan so far has been work on proposals for new archival legislation. Modernisation is necessary in order to cope with the requirement of 'born digital' records, including emails, and to produce effective records management to comply with recent legislation such as the Data Protection Act 1998 and the Freedom of Information Act 2000.
6.91 It is in this context that TNA has developed proposals for new national records and archives legislation. TNA has, in addition, set out the case for strengthening the existing legislative provision for local authority archive services. New legislation would also consolidate the merger of PRO and HMC as one organisation.
6.92 After detailed consideration by officials from departments throughout Whitehall, TNA issued a public consultation document about their proposals in August 2003. TNA was very pleased to receive over 250 responses, which were overwhelmingly positive. TNA is currently analysing the results in detail, with a view to making recommendations about what precisely needs to be done in the spring of 2004.
6.93 TNA successfully achieved re-accreditation under Investors in People for the third time in March 2003. The framework of staff competencies, known as Key Skills, was also developed further to address the requirements of the many specialist roles, ranging from records experts to project managers, in the organisation.
This will help TNA staff to identify more precisely their training and development needs, both in order to do their present jobs better and to progress their careers in TNA.
6.94 In October 2002, 62% of TNA staff responded to a staff attitude survey. Action plans have been put in place to address concerns and a new internal communications officer has been appointed. The next staff survey will take place in autumn 2004.
6.95 TNA now has a diversity strategy, which builds on the existing equal opportunities policy. From April 2003 all TNA managers have had a diversity target in their individual performance agreements.
6.96 TNA is committed to equality of opportunity for all and have policies in place to guard against discrimination and ensure there are no unfair barriers to employment or advancement. It recruits staff on the basis of fair and open competition and selection on merit. It complies with the recruitment code laid down by the Office of the Civil Service Commissioners and carries out regular internal audits. In addition, an independent external audit also takes place.
6.97 There are four Senior Civil Service Staff, three of whom are women. Of the total TNA staff at October 2003, 45.6% were women, 2.95% classed themselves as disabled under the Disability Discrimination Act, and 17.95% were from the ethnic minorities. TNA has targets to improve the diversity of their staff by 2005, and in particular to increase the proportion from the ethnic minorities to 20%.
6.98 TNA's capital investment in 2003/04 continues at the same level as in 2002/03 of £3m. Capital investment continues to support the Government's 2004 and 2005 targets, relating to electronic records management and electronic service delivery, while promoting social inclusion by broadening the range of TNA users.
6.99 An independent feasibility study found that the sale and leaseback of TNA buildings would not provide value for money. There are no other significant possibilities for sale of surplus assets or asset disposal.
6.100 TNA always examines potential PPP solutions, particularly in areas of rapid technological change and areas of possible income generation. It currently has a PPP-type contract with QinetiQ Ltd to provide the 1901 Census returns on the internet.
6.101 TNA's expenditure covers the cost of a number of
activities. It has a lead role in supporting other Government Departments
in their endeavours to meet the 2004 target for electronic records management.
In 2003/04
a challenging programme continues to be implemented for electronic service
delivery to provide access on the internet to TNA holdings. Meanwhile, ongoing
work continues, with the maintenance of the archives repository at Kew,
our low usage records storage facility in Cheshire, and of the public reading
rooms at Kew and the Family Records Centre in Islington. TNA funds the British
Film Institute to preserve and store government films, the University of
London for storing and giving access to government datasets and QinetiQ
to make available the 1901 online service. Microfilming documents ensures
their preservation and enhances access to them. TNA incurs capital expenditure
on improvement works and electronic development projects . Since TNA stores
approximately 172 linear kilometres of records, accommodation costs are
a high proportion of total expenditure. TNA also produces copies of documents,
on paper and electronically, for sale to the public, and offset their cost
by charging fees.
6.102 Net administration costs will decrease from £37.4 million in 2003/04 to £36.7 million in 2004/05. Investment in electronic service delivery will continue in 2004/05 at £3.3 million (£3.0 million 2003/04). Details of the resource budget, administration costs, capital budget, staff numbers, and capital assets are given in the following tables.
6.103 TNA complies with the CBI prompt payment code and BS 7890. Its policy is to pay bills in accordance with contractual conditions. Where no such conditions exist, the policy is to pay within 30 days of receipt of goods and services or on presentation of a valid invoice, whichever is the later. Complaints are registered with regard to late payment in the Financial Services Department. No complaints were received with regard to late payment in the period from November 2002 to December 2003. Performance is monitored continuously: in 2003/04, 99.2% of invoices were paid within 30 days; the projection for 2004/05 is 99.2%º.
| Table 1: The National Archives: Public Record Office and Historical Manuscripts Commission Total Public Spending | £000 | |||||||
| 1998/99 Outturn | 1999/00 Outturn | 2000/01 Outturn | 2001/02 Outturn | 2002/03 Outturn | 2003/04 Estimated Outturn | 2004/05 Plans | 2005/06 Plans | |
| Promoting the study of the past in order to inform the present and and future by selecting, preserving and making publicly available public records of historical value and by encouraging high standards of care and public access for archives of historical value outside the public records. | ||||||||
| Consumption of resources: | 22,751 | 25,037 | 27,169 | 29,874 | 32,873 | 37,400 | 36,731 | 39,394 |
| Total resource budget | 22,751 | 25,037 | 27,169 | 29,874 | 32,873 | 37,400 | 36,731 | 39,394 |
| of which | ||||||||
| Resource DEL |
22,751 | 25,037 | 27,169 | 29,874 | 32,873 | 37,400 | 36,731 | 39,394 |
| Promoting the study of the past in order to inform the present and future by selecting, preserving and making publicly available public records of historical value and by encouraging high standards of care and public access for archives of historical value outside the public records. | ||||||||
| Capital spending: | ||||||||
| 1,168 | 1,666 | 1,222 | 1,338 | 2,244 | 3,000 | 3,315 | 3,315 | |
| Total capital budget | 1,168 | 1,666 | 1,222 | 1,338 | 2,244 | 3,000 | 3,315 | 3,315 |
| of which | ||||||||
| Capital DEL (7) |
1,168 | 1,666 | 1,222 | 1,338 | 2,244 | 3,000 | 3,315 | 3,315 |
| Total public spending (8) | 20,477 | 23,814 | 25,575 | 27,173 | 31,411 | 34,301 | 33,952 | 36,616 |
| (7) Departmental Expenditure Limits, set as part
of 2002 Spending Review. (8) Total public spending calculated as the total of the resource budget plus capital budget, less depreciation. |
||||||||
| Table 2: The National Archives: Public Record Office and Historical Manuscripts Commission | ||||||||
| Resource Budget: DEL and AME (voted and non-voted) | £000 | |||||||
| 1998/99 Outturn | 1999/00 Outturn | 2000/01 Outturn | 2001/02 Outturn | 2002/03 Outturn | 2003/04 Estimated Outturn | 2004/05 Plans | 2005/06 Plans | |
| Promoting the study of the past in order to inform the present and future by selecting, preserving and making publicly available public records of historical value and by encouraging high standards of care and public access for archives of historical value outside the public records. | ||||||||
| Resources DEL | ||||||||
| Voted |
||||||||
| The cost of running the Public Records System |
||||||||
| RfR1 A Public Record Office | 22,668 | 24,643 | 26,307 | 28,651 | 32,329 | 36,249 | 35,587 | 38,252 |
| RfR1 B Historical Manuscript Commision | 986 | 1,074 | 1,095 | 1,223 | 1,122 | 1,151 | 1,144 | 1,142 |
| Total voted |
23,654 | 25,717 | 27,402 | 29,874 | 33,451 | 37,400 | 36,731 | 39,394 |
| Non-voted |
–903 | –680 | –233 | – | –578 | – | – | – |
| Total resource DEL | 22,751 | 25,037 | 27,169 | 29,874 | 32,873 | 37,400 | 36,731 | 39,394 |
| Total resources budget | 22,751 | 25,037 | 27,169 | 29,874 | 32,873 | 37,400 | 36,731 | 39,394 |
| of which | ||||||||
| Voted |
23,654 | 25,717 | 27,402 | 29,874 | 33,451 | 37,400 | 36,731 | 39,394 |
| Other non-voted |
–903 | –680 | –233 | – | –578 | – | – | – |
| and of which |
||||||||
| Central Government own spending |
22,751 | 25,037 | 27,169 | 29,874 | 32,873 | 37,400 | 36,731 | 39,394 |
| Resource DEL in Budgets | 23,654 | 25,717 | 27,402 | 29,874 | 33,451 | 37,400 | 36,731 | 39,394 |
| Total resource consumption in Estimates | 23,654 | 25,717 | 27,402 | 29,874 | 33,451 | 37,400 | 36,731 | 39,394 |
| Total public spending | 20,477 | 23,814 | 25,575 | 27,173 | 31,411 | 34,301 | 33,952 | 36,616 |
| Notes: | ||||||||
| DEL limits in this table are consistent with definitions
used in the 2002 Spending review. Figures for DEL limits consistent with definitions used in the 2000 Spending Review are shown in table 4. Voted Del and AME excludes any EU receipts included in DEL and AME Estimates. |
||||||||
| Table 3: The National Archives: Public Record Office and Historical Manuscripts Commission | ||||||||
| Capital Budget: DEL and AME (voted and non-voted) | £000 | |||||||
| 1998/99 Outturn | 1999/00 Outturn | 2000/01 Outturn | 2001/02 Outturn | 2002/03 Outturn | 2003/04 Estimated Outturn | 2004/05 Plans | 2005/06 Plans | |
| Promoting the study of the past in order to inform the present and future by selecting, preserving and making publicly available public records of historical value and by encouraging high standards of care and public access for archives of historical value outside the public records. |
||||||||
| Capital DEL | ||||||||
| Voted: |
||||||||
| Capital investment in the Public Records System |
||||||||
| RfR1 A Public Record Office |
1,157 | 1,654 | 1,210 | 1,324 | 2,230 | 2,985 | 3,300 | 3,300 |
| RfR1 B Historical Manuscript Commision |
11 | 12 | 12 | 14 | 14 | 15 | 15 | 15 |
| Total voted: |
1,168 | 1,666 | 1,222 | 1,338 | 2,244 | 3,000 | 3,315 | 3,315 |
| Total capital DEL | 1,168 | 1,666 | 1,222 | 1,338 | 2,244 | 3,000 | 3,315 | 3,315 |
| Total capital budget | 1,168 | 1,666 | 1,222 | 1,338 | 2,244 | 3,000 | 3,315 | 3,315 |
| of which | ||||||||
| Voted: |
1,168 | 1,666 | 1,222 | 1,338 | 2,244 | 3,000 | 3,315 | 3,315 |
| Other non-voted: |
||||||||
| and of which | ||||||||
| Central Government own spending | 1,168 | 1,666 | 1,222 | 1,338 | 2,244 | 3,000 | 3,315 | 3,315 |
| Capital DEL | 1,168 | 1,666 | 1,222 | 1,338 | 2,244 | 3,000 | 3,315 | 3,315 |
| Total net capital in Estimate | 1,168 | 1,666 | 1,222 | 1,338 | 2,244 | 3,000 | 3,315 | 3,315 |
| Total net capital in Estimate | 1,168 | 1,666 | 1,222 | 1,338 | 2,244 | 3,000 | 3,315 | 3,315 |
| Notes: | ||||||||
| DEL limits in this table are consistent with definitions
used in the 2002 Spending review. Figures for DEL limits consistent with definitions used in the 2000 Spending Review are shown in table 4. Voted Del and AME excludes any EU receipts included in DEL and AME Estimates. |
||||||||
| Table 4: The National Archives: Public Record Office and Historical Manuscripts Commission | |||||
| Resource and capital budget DEL and AME, on previous definitions of resource accounting and budgeting used in the 2000 Spending Review | £000 | ||||
| 1998/99 Outturn | 1999/00 Outturn | 2000/01 Outturn | 2001/02 Outturn | 2002/03 Outturn | |
| Resources DEL | |||||
| Resource DEL |
|||||
| The National Archives: Public Record Office and Historical Manuscripts Commission |
20,429 | 23,863 | 25,810 | 27,581 | 30,504 |
| Resource AME |
|||||
| The National Archives: Public Record Office and Historical Manuscripts Commission |
2,322 | 1,174 | 1,359 | 2,293 | 2,369 |
| and of which |
|||||
| non-cash items |
2,322 | 1,174 | 1,359 | 2,293 | 2,369 |
| Total resource budget | 22,751 | 25,037 | 27,169 | 29,874 | 32,873 |
| Capital budget | |||||
| Capital DEL |
|||||
| The National Archives: Public Record Office and Historical Manuscripts Commission |
1,168 | 1,666 | 1,222 | 1,338 | 2,244 |
| Total capital budget | 1,168 | 1,666 | 1,222 | 1,338 | 2,244 |
| Table 5: The National Archives: Public Record Office and Historical Manuscripts Commission | ||||||||
| Administration Costs | £000 | |||||||
| &nbs | ||||||||