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E-mail
Mr. Key: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when (a) the private offices of Ministers in his Department and (b) officials in the Main Building will be accessible by e-mail via the internet. [125809]
Dr. Moonie [holding answer 13 June 2000]: Internet e-mail access has been available to Ministers Outer Offices and senior MOD officials since 22 March 1999 via a dedicated MOD Main Building network. This provides web browsing and e-mail for both the Cabinet Office sponsored Government Secure Intranet (GSI), and the internet from a single account at any of the dedicated network workstations. Currently, this network has 104 accounts. This is an interim solution while the Department
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works to connect its main headquarters IT system, CHOtS, to the GSI and the internet, allowing e-mail only access to the internet for unclassified material.
Work is also in hand to provide web browsing of the internet, using separate workstations on a dedicated RESTRICTED only version of CHOtS, CSV8 Open. CSV8 Open will initially not be able to provide access to the GSI, but work is in progress to establish this link by 4th Qtr 2000.
The provision of the standard CHOtS and CSV8 Open solutions are both subject to the successful completion of pilot testing, currently being undertaken within MOD.
In addition to these initiatives, internet access, where needed and backed by an approved business case, has been provided by stand-alone PCs purchased through an MOD catalogue. These stand-alone internet PCs will either be replaced by the CHOtS initiatives mentioned above or will become part of a fully managed network--the Decant Migration Network (DMN)--which will support CHOtS Open. It is intended that the DMN will be provided when staff move out of Main Building into the decant buildings during its redevelopment.
RAF Neatishead
Mr. Salmond: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) when the defence housing at RAF Neatishead was disposed of; and how many dwellings were disposed of; [125567]
- (2) when the defence housing at RAF Neatishead was last renovated prior to disposal; and what the cost was of the renovations; [125568]
(3) how much was received by his Department in total and by unit for each house disposed of at RAF Neatishead. [125569]
Dr. Moonie [holding answer 13 June 2000]: There are no married quarters sited at RAF Neatishead. Personnel serving at that unit are housed in Service Family Accommodation (SFA) at either nearby Coltishall or Norwich, which has 644 properties available to accommodate families serving at RAF Coltishall, RAF Neatishead and other Service establishments in the area.
The majority of the Married Quarters Estate (some 57,000 properties or 95 per cent. of the total married quarter estate) in England and Wales was sold to Annington Homes in November 1996 on a 999 year lease. The Ministry of Defence retained the freehold. The properties were sold as a package with the receipt of some £1.6 billion going direct to the Exchequer rather than the Ministry of Defence; properties were not individually priced, so no unit cost is available.
Prior to 1996, SFA was managed by the three Services individually, and the costs of maintaining them was included in the wider provision for maintenance of Defence Establishments as a whole. It is not possible therefore to separate the costs incurred in maintaining SFA serving RAF Neatishead prior to the leasehold sale to Annington Homes.
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Clothing and Textiles
Mr. Duncan Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what development work is currently being carried out by the Defence Clothing and Textile Agency on new glove designs for the armed forces. [126212]
Mr. Spellar: Development work is being carried out by the Research and Technology Group of DCTA, on four different Glove Designs, as follows:
- NBC Protective Outer Glove Mk5
- A new glove is being developed to replace the current black rubber NBC Glove Mk2. The new design will give similar protection from chemical warfare agents, but will be thinner and less restrictive in fine handling tasks. Made from synthetic elastomers, it will also be flame-retardant and capable of being coloured. The Mk5 handwear is expected to enter service in 2003.
- Gloves, Gauntlet (Household Cavalry Mounted Regiment)
- One new Gauntlet being developed to replace two Gauntlets at present in service. It will be a combined pattern of the present gloves, and will rationalise the present materials employed.
- Gloves, Combat Mk11
- The present in-service glove is a complicated construction, made up of many components. It is difficult to make and is believed to be over specified for the use to which it is put. Trials of new designs, materials and constructions are underway, together with trials of several other gloves for comparative purposes.
- Male and Female Parade Dress Gloves
- At present, there are least 12 to 14 types of parade gloves in Black, Brown and White. It is hoped these can be reduced to two basic styles in Black, Brown and White by rationalising patterns, materials and fastening systems.
Mr. Duncan Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) which companies, and from which countries, submitted bids for the contract for the Mark II Combat glove; [126216]
- (2) for what reasons Feuchter was awarded the contract to supply the Mark II Combat glove; [126209]
(3) what is the value of the contract to supply the armed forces with the Mark II Combat glove; how many pairs have been ordered; and from which companies; [126215]
(4) what visits personnel from his Department made to foreign factories and manufacturing outlets during the process of awarding contracts for the Mark II Combat glove; [126213]
(5) what representations he has received about the quality and fit of the Mark II Combat glove. [126211]
Mr. Spellar: The current DCTA contract awarded to Feuchter for the supply of the Mark II Combat glove was placed in November 1998 (reference: STIA/1279) following competitive tender action. Complaint bids were received for the subject contracts from the following companies:
- Feuchter Gmbh and Co KG, Bavaria, Germany
- Burfield and Co (Gloves) Ltd., Martock, Somerset, UK
- Vaughan Tapscott Gloves, Torrington, Devon, UK
- Southcombe Brothers Ltd., Stock-Sub-Hamdon, Somerset, UK
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contracts: three visits have been made to Burfield and Co (Gloves) Ltd. since 1997, and two have been made to Southcombe Ltd.
The contract was split between the two lowest tenders: Feuchter Gmbh and Co KG for the quantity of 163,877 pairs, and Burfield and Co (Gloves) Ltd., for the quantity of 41,800 pairs. While Burfield submitted the cheapest priced offer, their tender had stated that they did not have the capacity to produce the full DCTA requirement in the timescale required. They were, however, given the contract for the maximum quantity which their tender had specified, which was the 41,800 pairs. As Feuchter had submitted the next lowest tender, and had stated that they had the capacity to meet DCTA's requirement, they were awarded the contract for the remainder of the requirement.
The total value of current contracts for the Mark II Combat gloves is £5,198,384. The breakdown of values and quantities is as follows:
- Feuchter Gmbh and Co KG
- Total value: £4,108,804
- Quantity: 171,977 pairs
- (Contract ST1A 1279)
- Burfields and Co
- Total value: £1,089,580
- Quantity: 48,300 pairs
- (Contract ST1A 1280)
Both contracts included an option for supply of a further 7,500 pairs of Mark II Combat gloves (total 15,000 pairs) for delivery in Financial Year 2000-01 and therefore is a further option in the contracts for Financial Year 2001-02.
Although reports were received by DCTA of a little tightness of fit being experienced in the early stages of production of the Mark II Combat gloves, no items necessitated rejection or return to place of manufacture. The reporting of defective items is facilitated by Defect Reports, which are raised by users of products in the three Armed Services. There are no records of any Defect Reports having been received for the Mark II Combat glove.
Mr. Duncan Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) what assessment his Department makes of the past record and experience of clothing and textile manufacturers in competition for clothing contracts; and if he will make a statement; [126210]
- (2) what account his Department takes of security of supply considerations when deciding to acquire clothing and textiles from foreign suppliers. [126214]
Mr. Spellar: DCTA have confirmed that full account is taken of Clothing and Textile manufacturers' past records and experience in terms of delivery, quality performance and price competitiveness, both at the time firms are considered for award of an Invitation to Tender and when considering competitive bids received.
As part of the procurement strategy for any clothing item, the overall risk assessment comprises many elements. The risks are managed as a series of processes, one of which includes a review of past performance of potential suppliers. All potential suppliers are subjected to the same consideration of providing evidence of operating an accredited quality system. This is usually satisfied
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through ISO 9000 registration. This risk reduction mechanism is used throughout the Ministry of Defence as part of the approved NACNOC policy.
In addition, in light of the Government's recent announcement of a 12 point plan for the UK Textile and Clothing Industry, I will be reviewing our current procurement policies.
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