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Test Pilots

Mr. Keetch: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what plans he has to transfer test pilots from DERA's Aircraft Test and Evaluation Sector at Boscombe Down to RAF Strike Command; and if he will make a statement. [112450]

Mr. Spellar [holding answer 1 March 2000]: The test pilots who support the work of DERA's Aircraft Test and Evaluation Sector at Boscombe Down are currently administered and line managed by RAF Personnel and Training Command. From 1 April 2000, this

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responsibility will be transferred to RAF Strike Command. This recognises that most of the test pilot output of the Aircraft Test and Evaluation Sector is in support of RAF Strike Command.

Floods (Mozambique)

Ann Clwyd: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assistance his Department is giving to aid the flood victims in Mozambique; and at what cost. [113342]

Mr. Spellar: The Ministry of Defence is providing four RAF Puma helicopters with around 100 support personnel, and the Royal Fleet Auxiliary FORT GEORGE with five RN Sea King helicopters to assist in the flood relief efforts in Mozambique.

The overall no loss costs (which exclude salaries and other sunk costs) are yet to be finalised. Assuming a two-week deployment, we expect the additional costs for the Pumas to be up to £1.8 million, and up to £1.4 million for FORT GEORGE. Exceptionally, £615,000 of the costs of the Pumas will be offset by the MOD against the costs of the exercise in Norway from which the helicopters have been withdrawn. The remainder will be borne by the Department for International Development.

Mr. Llew Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many military helicopters have been sent to Mozambique and South Africa to provide humanitarian aid for flood victims. [113300]

Mr. Spellar: The UK has sent a total of nine military helicopters to provide assistance to the international relief efforts in Mozambique. This comprises four RAF Pumas and five RN Sea King helicopters on board Royal Fleet Auxiliary FORT GEORGE. The Puma aircraft travelled via South Africa en route to Mozambique.

Defence Medical Training Organisation

Mr. Menzies Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list (a) those targets of the Defence Medical Training Organisation for 1998-99 which (i) were and (ii) were not achieved, giving the factors affecting the outcome in each case and (b) action taken by the agency to improve target achievement performance in 1999-2000; and if he will make a statement. [111753]

Dr. Moonie [holding answer 6 March 2000]: This is a matter for the Chief Executive of the Defence Medical Training Organisation. I have asked the Chief Executive to write to the right hon. and learned Member.

Letter from Brigadier J. R. Brown to Mr. Menzies Campbell, dated 8 March 2000:

I am replying to your question to the Secretary of State for Defence about our targets for 1998-99 as this matter falls within my area of responsibility as Chief Executive of the Defence Medical Training Organisation.

Our targets for 1998-99 are shown in the following table along with the outturn and achievement for that year. As you will see we achieved or exceeded all but three of our targets. We failed to meet our target to apply a Systems Approach to Training to a minimum of 33% of appropriate courses. This was because we had three vacant posts in the Division responsible for this work during this period. These posts have now been filled and we are on track to

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achieve our target in this area for 1999/2000. We also narrowly missed our target to deliver 95% of Common Core Course trainees on time as we only achieved 94.3%. Also our target to ensure that

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availability meets the requirement as defined in the Annual Agreed Training Requirement where we aimed for 100% but only achieved 99.7%.

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Ministerial Key Targets 1989-99

	Target/ Outturn	Targets, outturns and achievements 1998-99	Target for 1999-2000
Efficiency
Develop and implement a corporate index of efficiency that will then form a baseline for measuring year on year efficiency	Target	By 31 March 1999	To achieve 1.5% efficiency gain in matching capacity to the AATR
improvements	Outturn	Achieved(17)
Throughput
Ensure that availability meets the requirements as defined in the Annual	Target	100%	This target has been merged with efficiency
Agreed Training Requirement (AATR)	Outturn	99.7%
Quality
	To achieve the following academic success rate for the categories of training shown:
Common Core Course	Target	92%	94%
	Outturn	98.7%
Specialist Registrars	Target	95%	96%
	Outturn	99.2%
Pre Registration Nurses	Target	96%	96%
	Outturn	97.4%
	The following % of trainees achieving academic success to be delivered on time agreed with the customer:
Common Core Course	Target	95%	96%
	Outturn	94.3%
Specialist Registrars	Target	96%	96%
	Outturn	100%
Pre Registration Nurses	Target	98%	98%
	Outturn	100%
Ensure comprehensive application of a Systems Approach to Training to a minimum	Target	33%	33%
of X% of all appropriate courses	Outturn	28% this target was missed due to three vacant posts in Training Development Division
Other
Establish and agree with customers the baseline requirements for individual baseline	Target	31 March 1999	Establish and agree with customers the requirement for external medical
services training by X date	Outturn	Achieved for DMTO course schedule. Target extended to incorporate external training	services training by 31 March 2000
Achieve a satisfactory rating of customer	Target	Satisfied Customer
satisfaction	Outturn	Customers satisfied but no formal rating applied. Customer Satisfaction Survey to be run in 1999

(17) 1999-2000 is baseline year for index

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Defence Vetting Agency

Mr. Menzies Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list (a) those targets of the Defence Vetting Agency for 1998-99 which (i) were and (ii) were not achieved, giving the factors affecting the outcome in each case and (b) action taken by the agency to improve target achievement performance in 1999-2000; and if he will make a statement. [111743]

Dr. Moonie [holding answer 6 March 2000]: This is a matter for the Chief Executive of the Defence Vetting Agency. I have asked the Chief Executive to write to the right hon. and learned Member.

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Letter from Michael Wilson to Mr. Menzies Campbell, dated 8 March 2000:

I have been asked by the Secretary of State, in view of my responsibilities as Chief Executive of the Defence Vetting Agency, to provide a detailed response to your Named Day Written Question 111743.

The DVA was set 6 Key Targets in 1998-1999, relating to quality, timeliness and efficiency. The performance of the Agency against these is reflected in the Annual Report and Accounts, which is available in the library of the House of Commons. The complete list of Key Targets and their achievement is shown below.

1. To maintain quality standards to a 95% level through compliance with agreed procedures, and to develop quality improvement targets in the light of a Defence-wide customer survey. Achieved.

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2. To complete 85% of Security Checks (SC) within 6 weeks. Achieved.

3. To complete 71% of Counter Terrorist Checks (CTC) within 6 weeks. Achieved.

4. To complete 85% of Developed Vetting (DV) checks within 6 months. Achieved.

5. To reduce the 1997/1998 average times for SC, CTC and DV by 5%. SC and CTC achieved. DV not achieved - failed by 6%.

a. As explained in the Annual Report, this was a new target in 1998/1999, and each of the individual performance indicators was to be reviewed in the light of performance achieved. Thus, there was known to be some uncertainty surrounding these targets from the outset.

b. Each DV case involves at least one face-to-face interview with the vetting subject, and a number of further interviews with their referees. The number of referees interviewed varies from case to case depending on information available. And the time it takes to arrange and complete all the interviews on any particular case is very variable. For reasons that are not altogether clear, it proved more difficult in 1998/1999 than in 1997/1998 to line up Service personnel in the Army and in the RAF for interview. High turbulence may be a factor.

c. Failure against the target has not caused undue difficulty for the Services. The same target has been set for 1999/2000, and looks like being met.

6. To maintain the 1997/1998 Unit Cost of Output. Achieved.

In 1999-2000 the agency will be preparing to collocate at York from its existing locations in central London, Portsmouth, Woolwich and Corsham. In view of this, no improvement in performance has been anticipated during the period.

I hope this explains the position. Please let me know if you require further information.

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