Replies from the MoD to written questions
following the Oral Evidence Session of 8 December 1999
Question 1: The Basis for the Rent the MoD Pays
for its Military Survey Presence at Tolworth, Including Whether
it is Consistent with Local Rent Levels and Reflects a Share of
the Full Rental Value/Cost of the Tolworth Site or Just the Marginal
Costs Arising from the MoD's Occupation
1. Military Survey pays a "Capital
Charge" to the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food
for the use of "Knox" building on the Tolworth site.
The capital charge is calculated at 6% of the freehold value of
the building and includes an additional charge to cover council
rates. The Valuation Office assesses the building's freehold value
every five years, the next valuation is planned for June 2000.
MAFF use an inflator, based on a national index, to update the
capital charge each year. The capital charge paid in financial
year 1998-99 was £301,444. This figure excludes £36,442
maintenance and service/utility costs. The commercial rent for
similar property is estimated at £607,089 per annum[3],
excluding maintenance and service/utilities costs. Therefore Military
Survey pays 49% of the commercially viable rental costs.
Question 2: Details of Military Survey's Emerging
Plans to Reshape its Civilian Workforce
2. Military Survey is currently looking
to increase efficiency in its use of civilian manpower, including
restructuring the grade mix to meet changes in working methods
brought about by technological change. A two-fold approach is
being taken to achieve restructuring. First, a recruitment exercise
has recently been completed for junior Mapping and Charting (M&C)
grades in order to meet changes in working methods. Secondly,
the Agency is in the process of reducing the number of middle
managers from all occupational grades. A planning exercise is
currently being conducted to determine the number of senior M&C
staff required to meet Defence requirements.
Question 3: Details of the US's Ability to use
Bases in the UK, UK Sovereign Base Areas or in Other Countries,
from which they may Operate Intelligence Gathering Aircraft, and
the Treaties (if any) Covering Such Arrangements
3. The general arrangements (ie not specific
to intelligence gathering aircraft) are that sites in the UK are
made available to the UK Visiting Forces under the NATO Status
of Forces Agreement (SOFA). This is put in effect in UK law by
the Visiting Forces Act 1952. The SOFA provisions are supplemented
by a series of confidential agreements appropriate to the relationship
between the UK and US Governments. The over-arching agreement
is the Churchill/Truman Communique of 1952.
4. ***
Question 4: The Military Survey's Budget for
Acquiring Commercial Mapping/Data Products
5. The Agency's spend for commercial mapping/data
products is as follows:
|
| 1997-98 | 1998-99
| 1999-2000
(to date) |
|
| Mapping products | £1,832,758
| £1,646,443 | £1,405,454
|
| Satellite Imagery | £24,513
| £26,209 | £10,819
|
| Total Spend | £1,857,271
| £1,672, 652 | £1,416,273
|
|
Figures rounded to the nearest pound. 1999-2000 mapping products
spend includes payment of 18 months copyright fee to the Ordnance
Survey (GB).
Question 5: Details of the Rules Governing the Claiming
of "Output Efficiency" Measures Arising from Satisfying
Additional Operational Workloads in JARIC and Military Survey,
and the Amount of Such Efficiencies Claimed (or to be Claimed)
6. Question 81 of the private transcript to which the
above question refers relates to an error in the earlier MoD Memorandum
submitted under cover of letter dated 5 October 1999. In the table
on Agency Key Targets the performance comment for JARIC, in respect
of the current year, states that, ". . . Key Target 4 could
not be sustained during Kosovo." The sentence should have
read "Performance against . . . Key Target 3 could not be
sustained during Kosovo."
7. JARIC's inability to satisfy 85% of its non-operational
requirements within the timescales specified in the Customer Agreement
was addressed by the Committee at paragraph 80, where it was stated
that the performance related to the month of July only, and that
over the full 12 months JARIC expects to exceed that target. To
avoid misleading reporting on this target in the future the methodology
for deriving this measure is in the process of being refined.
8. Both Military Survey and JARIC have already met their
in-year efficiency target. These efficiencies were taken as input
efficiencies, or savings, and have not impacted on operational
demands. Costs for operations are identified and charged separately.
3
The commercial rent for the Tolworth site is based on sample
commercial rents for similar type buildings in the Tolworth area.
Rent calculation derived by multiplying the building area (50,590.8
square feet) by the sample rent (£12 per square foot per
annum). Back
|
