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Spending Review
To promote internationally the interests of the United Kingdom and to contribute to a strong world community.
Objective I: a secure UK within a more peaceful and stable world.
1. Where British interests are affected, secure timely, proportionate and effective international action to promote stability, including strengthened European security through a modernised NATO and a European Union (EU) military crisis management capacity operational by the end of 2002.
2. Improved effectiveness of the UK contribution to conflict prevention and management as demonstrated by a reduction in the number of people whose lives are affected by violent conflict and a reduction in potential sources of future conflict, where the UK can make a significant contribution. Joint target with DFID and MOD
Objective II: enhanced competitiveness of Britain's companies through overseas sales and investments; and a continuing high level of quality foreign direct investment.
3. Deliver a measurable improvement in the business performance of Trade Partners UK customers. Joint target with DTI
4. Maintain the UK as the prime location in the EU for foreign direct investment. Joint target with DTI
Objective III: increased prosperity for the UK through a strengthened international economic order.
5. Tangible benefits for UK business and the launch of a new broad-based, liberalising Trade Round.
Objective IV: a strong international community, leading to an improved quality of life worldwide.
6. Improved quality of life around the world on issues of concern to Britain including the environment, human rights, good governance and crime reduction. For example, we will work to secure the establishment of an International Criminal Court, ratification of the UN Convention against Torture by 70% of UN member states, and reform of leading international organisations so that the UK's objectives are delivered more efficiently and effectively.
Objective V: pivotal influence worldwide over decisions and actions which affect UK interests; positive foreign perceptions of the UK; authoritative, comprehensive information on foreign issues for UK decision-takers.
7. Increased UK influence overseas so that the UK's views and interests are taken into account in international decision-making. Measures include a 25% increase in UK share of the international higher education student market by 2005, and an increase in the global audience of the BBC World Service to 153 million by 2002.
Objective VI: a strong role for the UK in a strong Europe, responsive to people's needs.
8. A modern, reformed and enlarged EU, in which the UK plays a leading role and whose policies reflect UK political, social and economic priorities and win public support for Europe at home. For example by making the EU ready for enlargement, and reforming its institutions.
Objective VII: effective consular services to British nationals abroad.
9. Improved delivery of effective and efficient consular services to British nationals abroad including issuing 95% of passports within five working days, and access in the UK to overseas travel advice 24 hours a day.
Objective VIII: regulation of entry to, and settlement in, the UK in the interests of social stability and economic growth.
10. Decisions made within 24 hours on 90% of straightforward non-residence applications and within ten working days on non-residence applications requiring an interview.
Objective IX: secure and well-governed UK Overseas Territories enjoying sustainable development and growing prosperity.
11. A new partnership between the UK and the Overseas Territories (OTs) which yields improved standards of governance, human rights, the environment, sustainable development and security. (For example, implementation of the offer of British citizenship to British Dependent Territories' citizens, constitutional modernisation in all OTs and alignment of financial legislation in Caribbean OTs and Bermuda with specific international standards set out in the White Paper on the Overseas Territories).
12. Improved value for money in delivering our targets by implementing the Government's modernisation and civil service reform programmes. The FCO will achieve a 3% efficiency saving, including through installation of new IT which will generate an 11% (nominal) return on the investment.
Because of the special difficulties inherent in setting and measuring targets for international negotiations and objectives, the FCO has agreed a sophisticated system for monitoring progress. The PSA is supported by a Service Delivery Agreement (SDA) - to be published later in the year - which set out in more detail the outputs and outcomes the FCO will aim to produce in pursuit of its Objectives, as well as defining efficiency measures for its operation. Both PSA and SDA are underpinned by 'scorecards' which list specific measurable outcomes which the FCO is seeking to deliver. An unclassified version of these scorecards can be viewed with this PSA on the FCO website at www.fco.gov.uk (some elements will have to remain confidential so as not to reveal Britain's position, for example in international negotiations). We will publish a detailed Technical Note explaining more about their contents later in the year.
The Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs is responsible for delivery of this PSA. FCO and DTI have common targets for the work of British Trade International including Trade Partners UK (targets 3 & 4). The FCO and the Home Office are jointly responsible for the Joint Entry Clearance Unit (target 10).
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