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Pay-as-you-dine Contracts

Mr. Key: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on progress towards the implementation of the pay-as-you-dine contractorisation of junior mess halls. [123965]

Mr. Spellar: The Pay-As-You-Dine Project Team is currently producing an outline business case for consideration by the Project Board at the end of July 2000. If approval to proceed is given, an announcement will be placed in the Official Journal of the European Communities informing industry of the Department's intention to commence the PAYD procurement process. Dependent upon industry's response, I anticipate that a full Business Case will be submitted to the Equipment Approvals Committee in mid-2001, leading to Invitations to Negotiate for the provision of the PAYD cashless payment system and catering services. While there remain significant procurement strategy issues to be addressed, contracts should be awarded in mid-2003 with the aim of commencing a pilot phase towards the end of that year. The pilot phase will effectively represent the start of full roll-out, which should be completed by December 2004.

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Our intention is that a pay-as-you-dine system will be introduced into all Service messes where food charges currently apply, irrespective of rank.

Volunteer Reserve Forces

Mr. Key: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what will be the United Kingdom Volunteer Reserve Forces' (including the Territorial Army), (a) establishment and (b) strength in (i) 2005, (ii) 2010 and (iii) 2015. [123966]

Mr. Spellar: The Reserve Forces' establishments are authorised by Parliament in the Ministry of Defence Votes A, and are based on a detailed assessment of the current and future strategic environment the Services are likely to face. The establishments resulting from the Strategic Defence Review are:

	Number
Royal Naval Reserve	3,850
Royal Marines Reserve	1,008
Territorial Army	41,204
Volunteer Reserve Air Forces	2,920

It is not possible to predict the detail of the future framework owing to the changing nature of the international security environment. The restructured Territorial Army was in place by 1 April this year, and it is expected to be able to maintain force levels at establishment. The Royal Naval Reserve and Royal Marines Reserve expect to reach their establishments within the next two or three years. The Reserve Air Forces expect to reach their establishment over the next two to three years and beyond.

Nuclear Reactor Storage

Mr. Rendel: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what steps he has taken to find land storage sites for nuclear reactors from redundant submarines. [124390]

Dr. Moonie: No steps have yet been taken to find land storage sites for the nuclear reactors from decommissioned submarines. I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Dunfermline, West (Ms Squire) on 11 May 2000, Official Report, columns 447-48W, which stated that we expect specific sites to emerge during the next phase of our study into the storage of decommissioned nuclear submarines. This phase has just started and is expected to take about three years.

Animal Experiments

Mr. Wyatt: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what his policy is in respect of research carried out on animals at Porton Down; and what research is carried out there on behalf of other countries, with particular reference to defensive agent testing. [124192]

Mr. Spellar: The Ministry of Defence undertakes limited scientific work involving the use of animals for defence research purposes. This work is carried out on behalf of the Department by the Defence Evaluation and Research Agency (DERA) mainly at the Chemical and Biological Defence Sector at Porton Down, but also to a lesser extent at the Centre for Human Sciences at Alverstoke. The research programme involving animals is

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concerned wholly with providing the UK's Armed Forces with safe and effective protection against hazards they may encounter while carrying out their duties. The Ministry of Defence does not use animals in the development or evaluation of weapons and we continue to seek alternatives to the use of animals in experimentation wherever possible.

Research using animals within DERA is conducted strictly in accordance with the requirements of the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986 under which the Home Office licences and oversees all such activity. In addition, an independent Animal Welfare Advisory Committee was appointed in 1996 in response to public and Parliamentary concern over the use of animals in research. Its purpose is to keep animal care and welfare arrangements under review within DERA. A report by this Committee is published annually and a copy placed in the Library of the House.

The only research involving animals currently being undertaken by the Chemical and Biological Defence Sector at Porton Down on behalf of other countries is a study of the efficacy of prospective vaccines against a potential biological warfare agent. The work is for the US Department of Defense and its successful outcome will also be of direct benefit to the UK and our Armed Forces.

Operation Danish Bacon

Mr. Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his answer of 19 May 2000, Official Report, columns 288-89W, concerning Operation Danish Bacon, how battlefield injuries are simulated in the exercise Operation Danish Bacon. [124243]

Dr. Moonie: The Surgical Training Exercises in Denmark use pigs as surgical models because they are considered to have the closest physiological response to humans and are similar in size and weight. The pigs are deeply anaesthetised and then wounded by Danish Armed Forces' marksmen using weapons of three different calibres. Each animal is then given medical treatment as if it were a human casualty wounded in battle. Throughout, the pigs remain deeply anaesthetised and are humanely killed at the end of the exercise without regaining consciousness. Veterinary staff are in attendance at all times during the exercise and may withdraw an animal at any point for any reason.

Forest Moor Base

Mr. Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the purpose of the Forest Moor Royal Naval Communications Base; and how many (a) UK and (b) US personnel work there. [124209]

Mr. Spellar: HMS Forest Moor, near Harrogate, North Yorkshire, is part of the Defence Communication Services Agency. Staffed by both UK military and civilian personnel, HMS Forest Moor is the headquarters of the radio services grouping within the Agency which provides Very Low, Low and High Frequency radio communication services for the British Military and NATO. It has an establishment of 84 UK personnel; no US staff are employed at HMS Forest Moor.

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British Nuclear Test Veterans

Mr. Martin Bell: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what plans he has to give British nuclear test veterans access to their records. [123963]

Dr. Moonie: I assume the hon. Member is referring to official Service records, including medical records. It has always been the case that ex-Service personnel may request the details contained in such records though it has been usual for medical information to be passed to an individual's GP or legal representative. In the case of nuclear test veterans, they are also entitled to request any information held relating to their exposure to radiation during their participation in the UK's nuclear test programme in the 1950s and 1960s.

Missiles and Ammunition

Mr. Menzies Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what was the book value of the stock-retained totals of missiles and ammunition in each year from 1989-90 to 1999-2000; in each year, what was the (a) percentage change from the previous year, (b) total stock value expended in operations, training and exercises in that year and (c) proportion devoted to war reserves; and if he will make a statement. [124223]

Mr. Spellar: This information is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost. Furthermore, a full response would be withheld in accordance with exemption 1 of the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information, which relates to Defence Security and International Relations.

Defence Fraud Analysis Unit

Mr. Menzies Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what was the budget of the Defence Fraud Analysis Unit for 1999-2000 and what it will be for 2000-01; how many staff are dedicated to the unit; who heads the unit and to whom they report; what relationship the Defence Fraud Analysis Unit has with the Specialist Procurement Services scrutinisation system; and if he will make a statement. [123968]

Dr. Moonie: The Defence Fraud Analysis Unit (DFAU) has nine staff, is headed by an Assistant Director and forms part of the Directorate of Internal Audit (DIA). In 1999-2000, when the Directorate was being formed the costs of the unit (including set up costs) totalled £312,000. Expenditure for the current year (2000-01) is likely to be some £375,000.

The DFAU has no direct relationship with the Specialist Procurement Services (SPS). However the DFAU can and does call on the services of the SPS and a range of specialist areas including the Ministry of Defence Police fraud squad, internal audit and other such bodies to assist its work.

The DFAU now acts as the focus for all Ministry of Defence (MOD) fraud matters including the promotion of risk awareness. It works closely with all MOD authorities in adopting a proactive response to fraud risk.

Mr. Menzies Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the targets of the Defence Fraud Analysis Unit for 1999-2000 stating in each case (a) if the target was achieved, (b) the reason for any target not

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being met and (c) action taken by the Defence Fraud Analysis Unit to improve target achievement performance in 2000-01; and if he will make a statement. [123967]

Dr. Moonie: The Management of the Defence Fraud Analysis Unit (DFAU) was formed in February 1999 under the Director of Internal Audit (DIA). Targets for the year 1999-2000 included the development of a single fraud reporting point for the department, the creation of an information database, the commencement of a programme of risk awareness presentations, the revision of existing and new guidance on fraud deterrence and detection, the co-ordination of activity with the Ministry of Defence Police Fraud Squad and other related bodies, and the evaluation of suspected cases of fraud or irregularity raised by line management or concerned individuals. All targets were achieved.

DFAU objectives for 2000-01 reflect the continuing development of the unit and new initiatives aimed at improving performance and service. These include regular contributions to MOD and Police publications and a programme of 'no notice' visits to MOD formations and units as part of a pro-active response to fraud risk.

Steps being taken to improve performance in the coming year include investment in staff training and the latest data mining and fraud detection techniques.

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