7 Jun 2000 : Column: 237W
Written Answers to Questions
Wednesday 7 June 2000
DEFENCE
Defence Intelligence and Security Centre Agency
Mr. McWilliam: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what key targets have been set for the Defence Intelligence and Security Centre Agency for the financial year 2000-01. [125247]
Mr. Spellar: The role of the Defence Intelligence and Security Centre is to train the Armed Forces and other Intelligence agencies in intelligence and security disciplines and conduct after capture; to maintain an operational capability; and to contribute to effective and timely advice to the Armed Forces on appropriate intelligence and security matters. The Key Targets for the Agency for the 12 months from April 2000 are:
- Key Target 1:
- To satisfy 100 per cent. of operational taskings required by the Department to the standard specified by the tasking authority.
- Key Target 2:
- To deliver at least 90 per cent. of a training programme endorsed by the Defence Intelligence Training Policy Group within agreed resources.
- Key Target 3:
- To meet a 100 per cent. standard of quality for all training courses where there is a validated statement of customer training requirement, and a Systems Approach to Training (SAT) mechanism for measuring quality.
- Key Target 4:
- To reduce the real terms cost of delivering the average training place made available by the DISC by 2 per cent. in Financial Year 2000-01.
Defence Procurement Agency
Mr. Anthony D. Wright: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what key targets have been set for the Defence Procurement Agency for the financial year 2000-01. [125248]
Dr. Moonie: Five Key Targets have been set for the Chief Executive of the Defence Procurement Agency for the Financial Year 2000-01. The first three Key Targets apply to projects covered by the Major Projects Report which have passed their Main Gate approval, and prior to their In-Service Date. The Key Targets are:
- Key Target 1:
- Predicted achievement of customers' core requirements for projects: 91 per cent.
- Key Target 2:
- Average cumulative slippage of In-Service Dates at 31 March 2001: not to exceed 20.9 months.
- Key Target 3:
- Average cumulative cost variation at 31 March 2001: not to exceed 4.9 per cent.
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- Key Target 4:
- Customer Satisfaction Rating: 65 per cent.
- Key Target 5:
- While continuing to meet the demands of the procurement programme, reduce the operating costs of the DPA in relation to the 1997-98 costs of the Procurement Executive by: 19 per cent.
Sierra Leone
Mr. Mackinlay: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence on how many occasions in the past three months UK military or diplomatic personnel have been confronted in Sierra Leone by persons purporting to be United Nations personnel but who were not; if he will give details of such instances where United Nations insignia or colours were being worn; and if any such incidents involved the discharge of firearms. [124837]
Mr. Mackinlay: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what instructions are given to United Kingdom service personnel when they are required to communicate or collaborate with soldiers of the Sierra Leone Army whom they suspect are below 18 years of age; if those instructions provide specifically for cases where the child soldier is armed; and if he will make a statement. [124832]
Mr. Hoon: It is the policy of the Government of Sierra Leone not to employ children under 18 in the Sierra Leone Armed Forces. Instructions were issued recently by President Kabbah that anyone under 18 currently serving in those forces should be disarmed and demobilised.
Should UK personnel come into contact with any suspected child combatant in the course of their duties, they are instructed to inform the most senior Sierra Leonean Army Commander on the scene and draw his attention to the Government of Sierra Leone's stated policy. This instruction applies whether the suspected child combatant is armed or not.
Precision Bombing
Mr. Menzies Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what options are being considered by his Department to ensure aircraft are able to bomb with precision in all weather conditions; when a decision will be announced on the preferred option; and if he will make a statement. [124222]
Dr. Moonie [holding answer 5 June 2000]: This is a matter for the Chief Executive of the Defence Procurement Agency. I have asked the Chief Executive to write to the right hon. and learned Member.
Letter from Robert Walmsley to Mr. Menzies Campbell, dated 7 June 2000:
- I am replying to your question to the Secretary of State for Defence about what options are being considered by his Department to ensure aircraft are able to bomb with precision in all weather conditions and when a decision will be announced on a preferred option. This matter falls within my area of responsibility as Chief of Defence Procurement and Chief Executive of the Defence Procurement Agency.
- The Ministry of Defence is considering procuring Precision Guided Munitions to improve the accuracy with which the RAF can deliver free fall bombs in all weather conditions. A Request For Information was sent to industry and seven responses were received.
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- These propose a variety of technological solutions including the use of Inertial Navigation Systems augmented by information from Global Positioning System equipment.
- An Integrated Project Team has formed within the Defence Procurement Agency to conduct technical and commercial assessments of the solutions available. A decision announcing the preferred option is expected in mid 2002.
HOME DEPARTMENT
Specialist Operations
Mrs. Gordon: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the report by Her Majesty's Chief Inspector of Constabulary on specialist operations. [125250]
Mr. Charles Clarke: I have today placed in the Library a note of the recommendations from the report, together with responses by the Commissioners and comments by my right hon. Friend the Home Secretary in his capacity as police authority for the Metropolitan Police Service. The Metropolitan Police have accepted all 12 recommendations in the report. From 3 July, it will be the responsibility of the new Metropolitan Police Authority to monitor progress on implementation of the recommendations.
Police Costs
Mr. Dobson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list the average cost per police officer for each police force in England in the last financial year. [124400]
Mr. Charles Clarke: The average estimated net expenditure per police officer for 1999-2000 is set out in the table. The figures include pay and all other revenue expenditure.
Note:
Figures derived from net revenue estimates and projected average budgeted strengths for 1999-2000
Source:
The Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy Statistics (Estimates) for 1999-2000
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Contracts
Mr. Don Foster: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to his answer of 21 December 1999, Official Report, column 492W, concerning contracts, if he will list the companies concerned; and whether these contracts were subject to a competitive tendering process. [124814]
Mr. Straw: Further to the reply I gave the hon. Member on 21 December 1999, Official Report, column 492W, the named companies and tender processes undertaken are given in the table.
| Year | Name of consultant(s) | Tender action |
|---|---|---|
| May 1997 to March 1998 | NM Rothchild and Son Ltd. | Competitive |
| April 1998 to March 1999 | PA Consulting | Competitive |
| April 1999 to date | Brian Farrington | Competitive |
| April 1999 to date | MMM Consultancy Group Ltd. | Competitive |
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