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MOD Police

Mr. Menzies Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list (a) those targets of the MoD Police 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. [111763]

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

Letter from W. E. E. Boreham to Mr. Menzies Campbell, dated 8 March 2000:

I am replying to your question to the Secretary of State for Defence about targets for 1998-99 as this matter falls into my area of responsibility as Chief Constable/Chief Executive of the Ministry of Defence Police Agency.

The Ministry of Defence Police Agency were set the following Key Targets for 1998-99:

By 31 March 1999 to have completed all remaining Service Level Agreements with the Agency customers.

By 31 March 1999 to have established an MDP Office Watch initiative at a minimum of 20 MoD locations nation-wide.

In financial year 1998-99 to have in place Local Policing and Security Plans at each MDP policed Establishment.

By 31 March 1999, in accordance with Her Majesty's Inspector of Constabulary's recommendations, to have put in place agreed Area Policing Team (APT) performance indicators which will enable the Agency to set targets for APT performance improvement in financial year 1999-00.

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To achieve, across Chief Constable MDP's retained element of the MDP budget, an overall efficiency saving of 2.5 per cent.

To contribute to the achievement of Departmentally Mandated Standards for project CAPITAL (introduction of Resource Accounting and Budgeting).

All of these Key Targets were achieved in full, as reported in my Annual Report for 1998-99, copies of which are available in the Library of the House. Further demanding targets were put in place for 1999-00, and performance against them is monitored on a regular basis.

Army Base Storage and Distribution Agency

Mr. Menzies Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list (a) those targets of the Army Base Storage and Distribution 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. [111728]

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

Letter from Brigadier P. D. Foxton to Mr. Menzies Campbell, dated 8 March 2000:

I refer to your question to the Secretary of State for Defence concerning performance against targets set for the Army Base Storage and Distribution Agency (ABSDA) in 1998/99 and what action has been taken to improve performance in 1999-2000. As Chief Executive of the Defence Storage and Distribution Agency (DSDA), the successor organisation to ABSDA, I am replying as this subject falls within my area of responsibility.

As reported in the Agency's Annual Report and Accounts, which were placed in the House of Commons Library on 26 January 2000, ABSDA performance against its Key Targets for 1998/99 was:

a. Key Target 1:

To exceed 95% satisfaction for the processing of Consumers' authorised demands. This target was achieved.

b. Key Target 2:

To meet the agreed Customers' requirements for the provision of ammunition Units of Space (UOS) and ammunition processing facilities. This target was achieved.

c. Key Target 3:

To exceed Consumers' perceived satisfaction of the Agency. This target was achieved.

d. Key Target 4:

To exceed 90% of Consumers' authorised demands within Supply Chain Processing Time (SCPT) Depot Processing Times (DPT). This target was achieved.

e. Key Target 5:

To exceed a one day improvement in receipts processing cycle times. This target was achieved.

f. Key Target 6:

To establish the unit cost per output baseline to enable subsequent measurement of efficiency improvements. This target was achieved in relation to the available resources. Work on deriving costs of output should be able to follow on from the results of the Activity Based Costing trial at ABSDA sites.

A series of strategies were introduced to improve performance in 1999/2000. They are Total Quality Management, Business Excellence, Activity Based Management, and Investors in People, together with improved information systems. I am confident that these measures will build on the excellent foundations laid by DSDA's predecessor organisations in delivering improvements in both quality of service and efficiency. An early indication of their success is the selection of DSDA as a finalist in the TNT Modernising Government Partnership Awards.

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ABSDA ceased to exist on 31 March 1999. The Agency's ammunition functions were transferred to Defence Munitions and its non-explosives tasks were merged with a range of storage and distribution functions from the other Services and the MOD from DSDA.

Depleted Uranium Ammunition

Mrs. Ewing: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what recent research he has commissioned into a substitute for depleted uranium ammunition. [112840]

Mr. Spellar [holding answer 7 March 2000]: The Ministry of Defence has for many years conducted research into a range of weapon materials and designs. Research continues to include the search for potential alternatives to depleted uranium and to identify and characterise their performance and environmental impact.

Radiation Monitoring

Mr. Salmond: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is his policy on the carrying out of radiation/contamination monitoring surveys at the entrance of submarine reactor chambers on a 12 hourly basis. [112844]

Mr. Spellar [holding answer 7 March 2000]: All personnel are monitored immediately on exit from the reactor compartment on-board a submarine. As a routine, the entrance to the reactor compartment is monitored for contamination at least on a daily basis. During maintenance periods a radiation survey is undertaken on initial entry to the reactor compartment and repeated as necessary.

RAF Logistics Support Services

Mr. Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the future of the RAF Logistics Support Services Agency. [113892]

Mr. Spellar: As part of the restructuring taking place within the Defence Logistics following the Strategic Defence Review, the RAF Logistics Support Services Agency will close on 31 March 2000. The Agency's constituent elements will be transferred elsewhere in Defence Logistics Organisation. It is not envisaged that this will result, at least initially, in any geographical relocations or redundancies, and staff will continue to operate from their current locations.

SCOTLAND

Tuition Fees

Mr. Grieve: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what European Union legislation prevents the Scottish Executive from funding Scottish students at universities in England in the manner proposed by the Executive that funding should be provided for such students at Scottish universities; and what recent advice he has received and from whom, on this matter. [112042]

Dr. Reid [holding answer 28 February 2000]: This is a matter for the Scottish Executive. It is neither the custom nor practice of the UK Government or the Scottish Executive in Scotland to publish their legal advice.

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New Public Bodies

Mr. Redwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list the new public bodies established by his Department since May 1997. [112667]

Dr. Reid: The annual Cabinet Office publication "Public Bodies" provides information on a range of public bodies. The 1997 edition lists those public bodies in existence prior to May 1997. The 1998 and 1999 editions list public bodies in existence in subsequent years. Copies of these publications have been placed in the Library of the House. Copies are also available on the Cabinet Office website (www.cabinet-office.gov.uk/quango).

AGRICULTURE, FISHERIES AND FOOD

BSE and CJD

Mr. Drew: To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what discussions he has had with the French Minister for Agriculture on the increased incidence of BSE and CJD in France. [109850]

Ms Quin: [holding answer 14 February 2000]: The latest European Commission report, dated 21 January 2000, stated that the French government had reported a total of 77 cases of BSE, including one case imported from Switzerland. We are aware of two cases of vCJD in France.

These issues are primarily for the Commission and individual member states, rather than for bilateral discussion between member states.

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