LETTER FROM CAMPAIGN AGAINST ARMS TRADE
(28 APRIL 2000)
The Campaign Against Arms Trade notes that on
Wednesday 3 May the Defence Committee will be taking evidence
from Baroness Symonds, the Minister for Defence Procurement, on
the Government's latest proposals for the future structure and
ownership of the Defence Evaluation and Research Agency.
I am writing to you and the other members of
the Committee to see if you might be able to ask Baroness Symonds
about the Defence Diversification Agency. As you will know, this
was established by the current Government at the end of 1998 and
located within DERA. The details were given in "Defence Diversification:
Getting the most out of defence technology—proposals for
a Defence Diversification Agency" (Cm 4088, November 1998).
These proposals included appointing a Defence Diversification
Council which would "foster the aims of diversification both
nationally and regionally and devise challenging but achievable
objectives for the DDA."
Since then CAAT has only been able to glean
very minimal information from parliamentary answers about the
work of the DDA.
— The budget for the start-up financial
year 1999-2000 was set at £1.5 million and the forecast actual
spend is projected to be around £1.1 million. (Dr Lewis Moonie,
Hansard, 16.2.00)
— The DDA is already providing a substantial
service, particularly to small and medium enterprises. (Dr Lewis
Moonie, Hansard, 27.3.00) No answer was given to another
part of the same parliamentary question which asked when the DDA
would be publishing its first annual report.
— The Defence Diversification Council
has not yet been established. (Dr Lewis Moonie, Hansard, 27.3.00)
Would it be possible for you to ask the Minister:
(a) how the DDA fits into the Retained DERA/NewDERA
proposals;
(b) what the DDA has been doing to date and
what are its future plans;
(c) whether and when it is expected that
the DDA will publish an annual report or similar public document
giving information about its activities;
(d) why the Defence Diversification Council
has not yet been appointed?
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