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KPMG
Mr. Ruffley: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the services that KPMG have performed for his Department (a) since 1 May 1997 and (b) in the corresponding period prior to 1 May 1997, indicating the remuneration made in each case. [72005]
Mr. Doug Henderson: The Ministry of Defence has used the services of KPMG along with other large consultancy companies for a number of years and in the course of which they have received numerous contracts from the Department. It is not possible to provide full details of all contractual engagements which include many small contracts without incurring disproportionate cost, but the company have competitively tendered and been engaged to support a number of Departmental efficiency initiatives including Competing for Quality, the Private Finance Initiative and most recently SMART procurement, an initiative arising from the strategic defence review designed to introduce faster, cheaper and better defence purchasing. My Department's payments to KPMG pre/post 1 May 1997 are as follows:
| Date | £ |
|---|---|
| 1 August 1995--30 April 1997 | 1,413,972.75 (ex VAT) |
| 1 May 1997--1 January 1999 | 4,089,789.38 (ex VAT) |
Gibraltar
Mr. Gill: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what expenditure has been incurred by his Department in respect of the Gibraltar base in each of the last 10 years at current prices. [71692]
Mr. Doug Henderson: The costs falling to the budget of the Commander British Forces Gibraltar for the last seven years and an estimate of the costs of the current year are as follows:
| FY | Amount (£ million) | Current prices |
|---|---|---|
| 1991-92 | 60.7 | 74.5 |
| 1992-93 | 59.0 | 69.9 |
| 1993-94 | 60.4 | 69.1 |
| 1994-95 | 56.5 | 63.6 |
| 1995-96 | 58.6 | 63.9 |
| 1996-97 | 63.0 | 66.9 |
| 1997-98 | 61.3 | 63.8 |
| 1998-99 | 57.6 | 57.6 |
Note:
Figures uprated to current prices.
Similar information is not available for the years 1989-90 and 1990-91.
22 Feb 1999 : Column: 33
Staff Travel
Mr. Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the mileage rates currently applicable to staff, indicating what changes have been made to encourage staff to switch from cars to public transport and other less polluting forms of travel. [70956]
Mr. Doug Henderson [holding answer 15 February 1999]: The MOD reimburses motor mileage for official travel in private vehicles at two different levels. The higher (Standard) rate is restricted to journeys which would be impracticable by public transport, taking into account the overall cost to the Department. It reflects the full costs of travel by car. The lower (Public Transport) rate is set at a level which reflects the average cost of travel by public transport and is paid for all other official travel by car.
The rates applicable in the current tax year are as follows:
| Car engine capacity | Up to 1,000cc | 1001cc to 1500cc | 1501cc to 2000cc | 2001cc and over |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Up to 4,000 miles | 28 | 35 | 45 | 63 |
| Over 4,000 miles | 17 | 20 | 25 | 36 |
Public Transport Rate of Motor Mileage Allowance
All cars: 25.9p per mile
MOD discourages the unnecessary use of private cars and staff are required to undertake official travel by the most cost effective means. However, the dispersed and sometimes remote locations of Defence establishments means that public transport does not always offer a suitable option.
Northern Division
Mr. Key: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is the number of army personnel in the areas covered by (a) the Scottish District based in Edinburgh and (b) the Second Division based in York. [70125]
Mr. Doug Henderson [holding answer 9 February 1999]: The establishments of regular Army units in these areas is currently as follows:
- Scottish District 2,684
- 2nd Division 12,969.
Of these, some 400 personnel in Scottish District and 11,238 in the 2nd Division are in units which, though based in the area, will not be under the operational command of the General Officer Commanding the planned new northern division.
22 Feb 1999 : Column: 34
Following the restructuring of the Territorial Army announced by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Defence on 17 November 1998, the establishment of TA soldiers in these areas from June 1999 will be as follows:
Mr. Flynn:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is the estimated cost of the Defence Systems and Equipment International Exhibition to the United Kingdom Government. [70387]
Mr. Doug Henderson:
Under the arrangements set out in my reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Hackney, South and Shoreditch (Mr. Sedgemore) on 8 June 1998, Official Report, column 423, the principal costs for the exhibition will fall to the organisers, Spearhead Exhibitions Ltd. However, my Department will make a contribution towards the cost of the missions from the 50 or so countries to be invited by Her Majesty's Government. Detailed arrangements have yet to be finalised, but we have estimated a direct cost to MOD of about £250,000. In addition, representatives of Her Majesty's Government may carry out other activities associated with the exhibition as part of their normal duties. These could only be identified at disproportionate cost.
Mr. Llew Smith:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment he has made of the benefits of using the PFI to fund the next generation of weapons of mass destruction designed to replace Trident. [71172]
Mr. George Robertson:
I refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave my hon. Friend the Member for Nottingham, South (Mr. Simpson) on 3 February 1999, Official Report, column 650.
Mr. Woodward:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) what plans the Government have to close or scale down his Department's airfields at (a) Lyneham, (b) Boscombe Down and (c) Brize Norton; and what discussions he has had on the possible closure of these airfields; [71580]
(3) if he will make a statement on the Government's policy on his Department's airfields in the south of England. [71579]
Mr. Doug Henderson
[holding answer 16 February 1999]: I have no plans to close or scale down the airfields at Lyneham, Boscombe Down or Brize Norton. RAF Brize Norton remains the RAF's primary strategic air transport and air-to-air refuelling base. The Strategic Defence Review (SDR) has determined this Government's defence policy and the tasks and roles that need to be carried out in future. These, in turn will determine our requirements, among other things for airfields in the UK. Some SDR
22 Feb 1999 : Column: 35
measures may have implications for airfields in the South of England, which will be announced and consulted upon in the normal way.
Mr. Alan Simpson:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his answer of 4 February 1999, Official Report, column 737, how many Indonesian military personnel are currently receiving training in the United Kingdom; at which locations they are stationed; and what is the cost to United Kingdom public funds of that training. [71949]
Mr. Doug Henderson:
There are currently five Indonesian military personnel attending courses at UK military training establishments. One Indonesian Navy officer is at the Joint Services Command and Staff College; another is on the International Principal Warfare Officer course at HMS Dryad, and three Indonesians are on courses at the Royal Military College at Shrivenham as part of a private and commercial initiative organised by Cranfield university. Participation on courses at the Joint Services Command and Staff College and HMS Dryad have been provided from the Defence Military Assistance Fund at a cost of £85,000.
Details of Indonesian military personnel attending courses at non-military UK educational establishments are not the responsibility of my Department. However, based on the information available to us, we understand that a further four Indonesian military personnel are currently attending academic courses at non-military educational establishments in the UK. These students are on the Chevening scholarship programme at a cost of £100,000. Information on the location of those establishments has been withhold under Exemption 4 of the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information.
Mr. Berry:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment he has made of the impact on his Department's policies of the goods and services provisions of the Disability Discrimination Act 1995 to be implemented in October 1999. [71272]
Mr. Doug Henderson:
My Department will have a number of new statutory responsibilities as a result of the implementation of Part III of the Disability Discrimination Act next October. These include the provision of departmental publications in alternative formats, such as Braille or large print, access arrangements for people with disabilities to Service museums and at open days or other events held on MOD property, and the provision of suitable housing for Service personnel with disabled dependants.
Scottish District 4,501
2nd Division 8,574.
(2) what proposals he has for the future of RAF Brize Norton; [71577]
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