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Websites
Mr. Maclennan: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his answer of 3 May 2000, Official Report, column 117W, on websites, if he will list the major service events which satisfy all the conditions (a) for which a related website exists, (b) which were sponsored by one or more companies and (c) on whose website the sponsoring company receives publicity, either by having its logo on the site, or otherwise; and if he will in each case (i) list the sponsoring companies, (ii) estimate
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the market value of such publicity on the website and (iii) state if this estimate was taken into account in negotiating the sponsorship deal. [122743]
Dr. Moonie: My Department's principal websites--those of the central MOD and the three Services--are not sponsored by commercial companies. Where a major Service event has had external sponsorship and a related web page exists on a Ministry of Defence or Service website, the sponsor company's logo has on occasion been featured on that web page as an acknowledgment. In a few cases logos have been hyperlinked to the company's own website. The market value of the logo placements is assessed as negligible in comparison with the value of the overall sponsorship for the separate events, and taking into consideration the estimated number of visitors to the relevant pages and current market rates for website advertising on pages of this type.
The following table summarises the logo placements for sponsored major Service events on the Department's major websites. Detailed information on the other departmental websites maintained by individual Defence Agencies and units and on other sites maintained by non-departmental public bodies is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
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| Major Service event | Sponsor of event | Website(s) on which sponsor logo(s) featured |
|---|---|---|
| Army v Navy Rugby match | Willis Caroon | Royal Navy--www.royal-navy.mod.uk |
| Army--www.army.mod.uk | ||
| Royal Artillery display team | Main sponsors | |
| Kawasaki Motors(UK) | Army--www.army.mod.uk | |
| Wurth UK | ||
| Royal Military Tattoo | Amey plc | |
| BAe Systems | ||
| Daily Telegraph | Royal Military Tatoo 2000--www.rmt2000.mod.uk | |
| NAAFI/Warrior | ||
| THUS/Demon Internet | ||
| Service Offshore Regatta | EDS | Royal Navy--www.royal-navy.mod.uk |
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In addition, the Army has participated in the national Rugby League Silk Cut Challenge Cup. The company name appears in the competition's logo which features on the relevant section of the main Army website--www.army.mod.uk/sport/events.
Of those events listed, only the RMT 2000 website features active hyperlinks from a sponsor company's logo to the company's own website.
ABSV
Mr. Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the requirement of armoured battlegroup support vehicles will be for transportation by air; what aircraft he plans for transportation of the ABSV; and if he will make a statement. [122977]
Dr. Moonie: The full requirements for the Armoured Battle Group Support Vehicle (ABSV) have not been finalised. However, it is likely that the requirements will include comparable deployability to that of the Warrior Infantry Fighting Vehicle. This equates to its being air-portable by both C-17 and A-400M.
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Production Bases Abroad
Mr. Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what his policy is on giving assistance to British companies seeking to locate production bases outside the UK. [122976]
Dr. Moonie: My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry has the lead responsibility for providing advice and assistance to British companies seeking to locate production bases outside the UK. Such assistance is provided through the British Trade International organisation, run jointly by the Department of Trade and Industry and the Foreign and Commonwealth Office.
UK civil firms that have decided to invest abroad can obtain assistance by using the "Offset-Investment Brokering Scheme" which is run jointly by British Trade International and the Defence Export Services Organisation. This service connects Defence firms which possess indirect offset commitments, with investors, for their mutual benefit.
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Where a UK defence equipment manufacturer is successful in winning export business which requires, under industrial participation arrangements, the establishment of local production facilities, the Defence Export Services Organisation will provide additional support and guidance if required.
Procurement (Fraud)
Mr. Menzies Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what estimate his Department has made of the yearly cost to its budget of fraud in relation to procurement contracts. [122756]
Dr. Moonie [holding answer 19 May 2000]: The Department regards the whole of its procurement budget as being at risk from fraud. The cost of detected fraud is, however, difficult to quantify. The process followed is to assume, once an investigation of a potential fraud begins, that the whole contract value is at risk. Values are then revised as the case progresses to completion. On this basis, the Department's estimates of the value of procurement fraud over the last five years are as follows:
| £ | |
|---|---|
| 1995-96 | 2,700 |
| 1996-97 | No value |
| 1997-98 | 1,000 |
| 1998-99 | 14,343 |
| 1999-2000 | (28)796,326 |
(28) Includes one case estimated at £916,000, one estimated at £500,000 and one estimated at £260,000
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The three cases recorded against 1999-2000 are at an early stage of investigation
Opinion Research
Mr. Duncan Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how much his Department spent on opinion research in the financial year 1999-2000. [123246]
Dr. Moonie [holding answer 22 May 2000]: Expenditure on external opinion research carried out in 1999-2000 was £600,272. Some small local studies may not be included as details are not held centrally.
Mr. Duncan Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list opinion research projects undertaken on behalf of his Department in the financial year 1999-2000, itemising (a) focus group research, (b) quantative surveys, and (c) other market research surveys, in each case stating when and where the results were published. [123232]
Dr. Moonie [holding answer 22 May 2000]: The following table gives information on external opinion research in 1999-2000. Research is carried out to explore public attitudes to Defence and the Armed Forces and the findings are used to assist planning on issues like recruitment to the Armed Forces. Research results are available in accordance with the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information.
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| Title | Type |
|---|---|
| National Association of Boys Clubs--Evaluation Post Stage | Focus group and quantitative |
| Office Redesign | Focus group |
| TA Army Medical Service Strategic Development | Focus group |
| Image of Recruit Selection Centres | Focus group |
| Officer Profiling Year 2 | Quantitative |
| Be the best Advertising Tracking | Quantitative |
| January 2000 Omnibus | Quantitative |
| Army Ethnic Minority Evaluation | Quantitative |
| Nato Strategy Development Research (in conjunction with FCO) | Focus group |
| Public Attitudes to Defence | Focus group |
| Public Attitudes to Defence | Quantitative |
| Sponsorship of Formula One on Talk Radio | Quantitative |
| Advertising Tracking Research 1999 | Quantitative |
| Yorkshire Initiative and Opportunities for all days | Focus group and quantitative |
| Engineer Officer TV Advert Creative Development | Focus group |
| Engineering Graduate Strategy Research | Focus group |
| Spotlight Publicity Evaluation | Quantitative |
| Advertising Tracking | Focus group and quantitative |
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Prisoners of War
Mr. Ben Chapman: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he will make an announcement on the question of a gratuity for former far east prisoners of war. [123529]
Dr. Moonie: I refer my hon. Friend to the answer given by my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister on 3 May 2000, Official Report, column 143, to the hon. Member for Tatton (Mr. Bell). This matter is still being carefully considered in consultation with colleagues and no conclusions have yet been reached.
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Families Associations Representatives
Mr. Keetch: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his letter D/Min(AF)/JS PQ2803J/99 of 18 December 1999, if he will list the (a) names, (b) date of commencement in position, (c) formal employer and line manager, (d) responsibilities of and (e) salary of the Families Association representatives based at (i) HMNB Portsmouth, (ii) HMNB Devonport, (iii) Faslane/Clyde, (iv) HMS Collingwood, (v) HMS Raleigh, (vi) BRNC Dartmouth, (vii) RMTC Lympstone, (viii) HMS Excellent and (ix) RNAS Culdrose; and if he will make a statement. [123243]
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Mr. Spellar [holding answer 23 May 2000]: The tables attached with my letter D/Min(AF)/JSPQ2803J/99/P provided data received from the relevant Establishments and Units about welfare and other facilities for which provision was made at the units concerned. I understand, however, that in relation to the list of Families Association Representatives, although the Association of Royal Naval and Royal Marine Families very much hopes in due course to establish local representatives in the bases listed, it has not yet done so. That is because the Association only came into being last year and has only just recruited its first local representative, who is based in Helston, Cornwall. The Association is an independent body, although it does receive some financial assistance from my Department and provision of some accommodation and facilities. The recruitment of local representatives, management arrangements and responsibilities are all matters for the Association.
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