House of Commons Hansard Written Answers for 9 May 1996 (pt 10)

Defence Research Information Centre

Mr. Livingstone: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what are the responsibilities of the defence research information centre; what are the titles of the publications or bulletins which are published by the defence research information centre (a) regularly and (b) occasionally; and what is the function and nature of each of these publications or bulletins. [28044]

Mr. Arbuthnot: This is a matter for the chief executive of the Defence Evaluation and Research Agency. I have asked the chief executive to write to the hon. Member.

Letter from John Chisholm to Mr. Ken Livingstone, dated 9 May 1996:

I have been asked to reply to your question about the Defence Research Information Centre which is now part of the Defence Support Services division of the Defence Evaluation and Research Agency of which I am Chief Executive.

The role of the Defence Research Information Centre, DRIC, based in Glasgow, is to act as a repository and source of information for all technical and scientific reports produced by or sponsored by the Ministry of Defence and its agencies. Some information is also held under international exchange agreements. Approved customers are entitled to draw on this information.

9 May 1996 : Column: 225

DRIC produces a number of bulletins for customers listing the information that is held. These and their functions are summarised in the table below.

Item	Title	Frequency	Nature (content)	Function
A	DRIC Abstracts	Monthly and Quarterly	Citations to classified reports of a scientific or technical nature which have been received from UK or overseas sources	Dissemination within, or on behalf of MoD, of classified results of MoD
B	DRIC Standard Profiles	Monthly	Subject specific subset of DRIC Abstracts	Selected subject categories of above
C	Overseas Citations Lists	Monthly	Lists of bibliographic details of overseas defence research publications	Similar to item A but based solely on citation lists received from overseas. Raises awareness of their defence research activities
D	DRIC Newsletter	Quarterly	Customer information	Keeping customers aware of relevant development in DRIC's capabilities and indicating how they can obtain maximum benefit

I hope this information helps.

HMS Dasher

Mr. Wilson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will arrange for all papers relating to the loss of HMS Dasher on 27 March 1943 on the River Clyde, including the findings resulting from subsequent dives by the wrecks section of the Hydrographic Office, to be made available to interested parties. [28169]

Mr. Soames: HMS Dasher, an escort carrier based on a mercantile hull and built in the USA, blew up and sank on 27 March 1943, due to an explosion in her aviation fuel system. All papers relating to her loss have been available at the Public Record Office since 1972. A deep dive on this wreck was conducted in January 1982, on behalf of the Royal Navy Hydrographic Office. The purpose of the dive was positively to identify Dasher, which is lying close to another wreck, and to obtain an accurate fix of her position for charting purposes. The information now appears on Admiralty chart No. 2491.

Mr. Wilson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will bring forward proposals for official recognition by the Royal Navy of the loss of HMS Dasher and the loss of human life. [28170]

Mr. Soames: The names of all those who died as a result of the loss of HMS Dasher, and whose bodies were not recovered, are commemorated on various official war memorials. The graves of those whose bodies were recovered are the responsibility either of their families or, if the bodies were not claimed at the time, of the Commonwealth War Graves Commission. In line with the

9 May 1996 : Column: 226

general practice, my Deaprtment has no plans for further recognition of the loss of HMS Dasher.

War Crime Sites

Mr. Macdonald: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the role of British troops deployed with the United Nations implementation force--IFOR--in respect of their role in protecting suspected war crime sites at the request of the international tribunal of The Hague. [28273]

Mr. Soames: IFOR's primary mission in Bosnia is to ensure compliance with the military aspects of the peace agreement. It does not have the resources to guard suspected mass grave sites on a continuous basis without detriment to this mission. IFOR provides, however, a secure environment for the tribunal's work and logistic support and protection for its investigators on a case-by-case basis. In addition, IFOR conducts aerial reconnaissance and patrols in the area of suspected mass grave sites to monitor and report on any tampering or suspicious activity.

The United Kingdom fully supports the work of the tribunal and British troops are closely involved in assisting their investigations. The tribunal's chief prosecutor has expressed full satisfaction with the level of support provided by IFOR.

Defence Analytical Services Agency

Mr. Butler: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what performance targets have been set for the Defence Analytical Services Agency for 1996-97. [28961]

Mr. Soames: Key targets have been set for the chief executive of the Defence Analytical Services Agency for financial year 1996-97. The targets build on the progress already made by the agency since it formed in July 1992 and are as follows: Delivery of customer service and quality

About three quarters of the agency's business is covered by service level agreements with customers, which set out the targets and standards for the level of service, timeliness and quality of work. For the remaining parts of the business, for which service level agreements are not appropriate, project agreements are in place. Key targets are:

(a) To meet at least 95 per cent. of the timeliness and quality targets set in the service level agreements and project agreements.

(b) To have at least 90 per cent. of customers saying they are at least satisfied with the timeliness, quality of work and helpfulness of staff in the annual customer satisfaction survey covering all aspects of the business.

(c) To engage customers in a fundamental review of service level agreements to ensure they fully reflect current and expected needs.

(d) To demonstrate a further, independently assessed, improvement in the quality of published output.

9 May 1996 : Column: 227

Efficiency and use of resources

The agency plans to make significant savings in 1996-97 as well as meeting the demands arising from a number of important studies and initiatives. Key targets are:

(e) To bring forward £136,000 "Competing for Quality" savings scheduled for 1997-98 to 1996-97.

(f) To support the MOD's work on the Gulf health research programme, implementation of the Bett study, and civilian pay and grading from within existing resources.

Official Hospitality

Mr. Tony Banks: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how much was spent on official hospitality by his Department and all associated agencies in the financial year 1995-96. [28568]

Mr. Soames: During financial year 1995-96 my Department spent £5.105 million on official hospitality. These figures include expenditure incurred by the Ministry of Defence itself, by formations and establishments of the armed forces at home and abroad, and by individual officers occupying command and international appointments for which entertainment allowances are payable. Where responsibility for such expenditure falls to the chief executives of my Department's agencies I have asked the chief executives to reply direct to the hon. Member.

Letter from J. R. Drew to Mr. Tony Banks, dated 9 May 1996:

I am replying to your question to the Secretary of State for Defence about how much was spent on official hospitality in his Department and associated agencies in 1995/96 as this matter falls within my area of responsibility as Chief Executive of the Army Base Repair Organisation (ABRO).
During the financial year 1995/96 ABRO spent £5,886 on official hospitality.

Letter from K. J. W. Goad to Mr. Tony Banks, dated 9 May 1996:

I am replying to your question to the Secretary of State for Defence regarding official hospitality by his Department and all associated agencies in the financial year 1995-96. As Chief Executive of the Army Base Storage and Distribution Agency (ABSDA), I reply with the Agency's details.
The total spend on official hospitality for my Agency as a whole (i.e. across all 10 main Depot locations and 24 smaller locations in Great Britain and Germany) in the financial year 1995/96 was £16,389.77.
Thank you very much for your enquiry. I hope this is sufficient detail to meet your requirements. Should you require any further information please contact me.

Letter from Paul Altobell to Mr. Tony Banks, dated 9 May 1996:

I am replying to your question to the Secretary of State for Defence about official hospitality as this matter falls within my area of responsibility as Chief Executive of the Defence Analytical Services Agency (DASA).

DASA spent £769.24 on official hospitality in financial year 1995/96.

9 May 1996 : Column: 228

Letter from A. H. Roache to Mr. Tony Banks, dated 9 May 1996:

As Chief Executive of the Defence Animal Centre (DAC) I am replying to your Question to the Secretary of State for Defence regarding how much was spent on official hospitality by his Department and all associated agencies in the financial year 1995/96.
The DAC did not expend Agency funds on official hospitality in the period indicated.

Letter from Michael Roycroft to Mr. Tony Banks, dated 9 May 1996:

I am replying to your question to the Secretary of State for Defence about expenditure on official entertainment, as this matter falls within my area of responsibility as Chief Executive of the Defence Clothing & Textile Agency.
Expenditure on official entertainment for the financial year 1995/96 was £2943.
I hope this information answers your question, if I can be of further assistance to you please do not hesitate to contact me.