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Porton Down Staff Newsletter
Mr. Livingstone: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is the current security classification of the newsletter produced for the staff of the chemical defence establishment at Porton Down; how often this newsletter is produced; and when this newsletter was first produced. [12182]
Mr. Spellar: This is a matter for the chief executive of the Defence Evaluation and Research Agency. I asked the chief executive to write to my hon. Friend and understand he did so on 20 August 1997.
Letter from John Chisholm to Mr. Ken Livingstone, dated 20 August 1997:
I am replying to your Question to the Secretary of State for Defence about the staff newsletter at Porton Down as this matter falls within my area of responsibility as Chief Executive of the Defence Evaluation and Research Agency.
Internal newsletters at Porton Down have been produced in many different forms over the years. They are not usually classified but are not generally circulated outside the MOD.
CBD News was first produced in its current format in February 1995. It is usually published monthly, although there has recently been a three month gap between editions. It is not classified but is only distributed to staff at Porton Down and a small number of staff elsewhere in DERA and MOD.
I hope this is helpful.
Goods and Services (Payments)
Mr. Todd:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list each of the functions relating to payment for goods or services supplied for which his Department is responsible indicating the management systems purchased, all sub-contractors involved in the work, co-operative arrangements with other Departments; and the costs of the systems and processes in the last year for which figures are available. [12564]
27 Oct 1997 : Column: 662
Mr. Spellar:
This is a matter for the chief executive of the Defence Bills Agency. I have asked the chief executive to write to my hon. Friend.
Letter from Mr. I. S. Elrick to Mr. Mark Todd, dated 27 October 1997:
Ann Clwyd:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what key targets have been set for the Ministry of Defence Police agency for 1997-98. [12580]
Dr. Reid:
The following key targets have been set for the Ministry of Defence Policy agency:
27 Oct 1997 : Column: 663
Mr. Stinchcombe:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what safeguards are in place to ensure United Kingdom troops are not involved in training overseas security forces later used in internal repression. [12347]
Dr. Reid:
The provision of training for overseas security forces is a valuable tool in furthering the Government's defence and foreign policy objectives. Requests for training are considered on a case-by-case basis. Close contact is maintained between the Ministry of Defence and the Foreign and Commonwealth Office and training would not be provided where we considered it would contribute to human rights violations. Even where human rights is not specifically covered, training provided by our military forces supports Government human rights policy by exposing overseas students to human rights standards and helping them develop an understanding of how armed forces operate in a democratic society.
Mr. Stinchcombe:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what training United Kingdom troops have given to the Kenyan army and security forces. [12348]
Dr. Reid:
It has been the practice in the past not to release details of military assistance provided to other countries on the grounds that this information is confidential between Governments and disclosure would risk damaging our international relations. This practice is now being reviewed against the background of the Government's commitment to openness. I will write to my hon. Friend once the review is complete.
Mr. Corbyn:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what training of members of the Colombian police force in Colombia is being undertaken by the SAS. [12846]
Dr. Reid:
Any comment on such matters could cause harm in terms of one or more of the defence, security or international relations exemptions in the "Code of Practice on Access to Government Information".
Mr. Stunell:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what plans his Department has to review its relationship with non-governmental organisations involved in energy and environmental education. [12546]
Mr. Spellar:
My Department's relationships with non-governmental organisations involved in energy or environmental training has extended to contracting for such training when required. We have introduced more in-house environmental training, which includes energy education, to meet most of our current needs. There will nevertheless be a continuing requirement for specialist NGO training to meet the needs of staff in key environmental protection and energy appointments.
Ann Clwyd:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is the normal offset arrangement for Indonesia for purchases above 500 million rupiahs; and what percentage offset was required as part of the deal to export Hawk trainers to Indonesia. [12341]
27 Oct 1997 : Column: 664
Mr. Spellar:
For contracts over 500 million rupiahs, a 100 per cent. obligation is incurred. The contracts signed in 1993 and 1996 for the export of Hawk trainers to Indonesia were both in excess of 500 million rupiahs.
Mr. Robert McCartney:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment he has made of the potential benefits from use of the private finance initiative in his Department's projects in Northern Ireland. [12959]
Dr. Reid:
I have given approval for two pilot PFI projects to be run to explore the feasibility of the Army making use of the private finance initiative in Northern Ireland. One involves the provision of families quarters in Ballymena, Antrim and Lisburn areas and the other the provision of living and working accommodation and facilities management in Lisburn. A briefing day for firms interested in the families quarters project was held on 20 October 1997 but it is too early to assess the potential benefits if the PFI proves practicable.
Mr. Robert McCartney:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment he has made of the security implications of non-civil service arrangements for the work presently carried out in his Department by Building Management (Northern Ireland). [12958]
Dr. Reid:
Management, construction and maintenance of the Defence estate in Northern Ireland is carried out by a combination of commercial firms, MOD civil servants and service personnel. We are currently reviewing the headquarters Northern Ireland estate organisation, including the Building Management (Northern Ireland) element. As part of this we shall be taking into account the financial and personnel, as well as security, implications of any proposals for change.
Mr. Robert McCartney:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what plans he has for replacing civilian workers with Army personnel in his Department's establishments in Northern Ireland. [12960]
Dr. Reid:
The hon. Gentleman will understand that the military and civilian manpower mix in MOD establishments in Northern Ireland is kept under review to provide the most efficient and cost effective use of personnel.
I am replying to your Question to the Secretary of State for Defence about payment for MOD goods and services as, in the main, this matter falls within my area of responsibility as Chief Executive of the Defence Bills Agency.
The Defence Bills Agency is the Primary bill payment authority for MOD but the Meteorological Office, Hydrographic Office and Defence Evaluation and Research Agency (DERA) also undertake specified bill payment action. Set out below is the information you requested for each operating system.
The Defence Bills Agency operates a bespoke system, developed in-house, which integrates contract control functionality with the bill payment system. Certain support functions are provided using systems supplied by AVCO Systems Ltd and ROCC Computers Ltd. During 1996-97 the system was operated on an ICL 3965 Dual Node Mainframe. The operating platform has been uprated in 1997-98 to an ICL SX 485-20 to cope with the additional requirements arising from the introduction of Resource Accounting. The operating cost of the system in 1996-97 was £2.4 million (excluding VAT).
During 1996-97 the Meteorological Office used a Ross purchase ledger run on a VAX machine. DERA assisted in implementing this system and supported both hardware and software. The operating costs of the systems and processes was £222,000 (excluding VAT).
The Hydrographic Office used Prophecy Version 2 running on a DEC Alpha box under UNIX. Software supply, maintenance and development was provided by Radius Computer Systems Ltd. The operating cost of the bill payment systems and processes was £66,000 (excluding VAT) during 1996-97.
During 1996-97 DERA used Digital Equipment Company VAX hardware running Ross Classic software. No sub-contractors were used in developing or operating the system during 1996-97. The operating cost of the systems and processes was £1.8 million (excluding VAT).
Crown Prosecution Service files: to exceed the provincial Home Department police forces' 74 per cent. average rate of compliance with the time limits set for the preparation of CPS files.
To determine a benchmark for satisfaction from victims of crime in the service provided by MDP.
To meet and maintain the national 1996 British crime survey standard of 80 per cent. for public satisfaction with the MDP's policing and security services.
By 1 April 1998 to have achieved the standard of Investors in People.
By 31 March 1998 to have reduced the force complement to a level at or below 3,750 officers.
By 31 March 1998 to implement the additional area policing teams approved by Ministers.
To achieve the level of efficiency savings of 2.5 per cent. prescribed within Departmental and efficiency plans.
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