Environment Food and Rural Affairs written statement – made at on 22 June 2009.
Huw Irranca-Davies
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs) (Marine and Natural Environment)
I have set the Marine and Fisheries Agency (MFA) the following performance targets for 2009-10.
Quality service delivery
Licensing and monitoring of coastal and marine developments and activities to protect the marine environment and secure benefits from its use.
Marine works
Provide an initial response to 75 per cent. of applications within 12 weeks of the receipt of complete applications(1), summarising the responses to the consultation process and listing any replies still outstanding for which an extended response date has been agreed.
Marine minerals
Issue a screening determination on 80 per cent. of marine minerals applications within six weeks of receipt of the application.
Renewables
Confirm with applicants, in writing, when the negotiation stage of the renewables FEPA licensing progress has concluded and inform them of the licence decision within six weeks of the correspondence date.
Effective management and regulation of sea fisheries to secure a sustainable future.
Fishing vessel licensing
Issue 100 per cent. of over 10 metre licences biennially by
Quota management
No overfishing of quota stocks by vessels or groups for which the agency has management responsibilities and which results in EU deduction or infraction proceedings against the UK.
Sea fisheries enforcement
Deploy enforcement and inspection resources in line with risk weightings and undertake monitoring, control and surveillance activities leading to inspection based on risk and intelligence.
Value for public money
Deliver the MFA transition programme and relocation within the resources allocated working in collaboration as appropriate with DEFRA and other network delivery partners.
Capacity and capability
Ensure that agency maintains capacity to deliver its services during the relocation of the HQ to Tyneside and to develop its new and existing people through a comprehensive training and development programme working as appropriate in collaboration with DEFRA and other network delivery partners.
Further details are given in the MFA business plan for 2009-10, copies of which will be placed in the Libraries of the House.
(1)( )Include plans, charts, technical drawings, method statement and any environmental statement that may be required.
