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Written Answers to Questions

Thursday 26 April 2001

DEFENCE

Defence Procurement Agency

Mr. Reed: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what key targets have been set for the Defence Procurement Agency for the financial year 2001-02. [159240]

Mr. Hoon: Five key targets have been set for the Chief Executive of the Defence Procurement Agency for the financial year 2001-02.

The first key targets apply to projects covered by the Major Projects Report which have passed their main gate approval. Key targets 2 and 3 are consistent with targets set in the Department's 1999-2002 Public Service Agreement (PSA), adapted to cover cumulative performance. The fourth key target relates to improvement in DPA customer satisfaction and the fifth to a reduction in the cost of running the agency. Key target 5 exceeds the target featured in the PSA. They key targets are:

Key target 1: Key requirements compliance

Predicted achievement of customers' key requirements for projects ¹ : 97 per cent.

Key target 2: Average cumulative In-Service Date slippage

Average cumulative slippage of In-Service Dates ² at 31 March 2002 not to exceed 11.4 months.

Key target 3: Average cumulative cost growth

Average cumulative cost variation ³ at 31 March 2002 not to exceed 2.5 per cent.

Key target 4: Customer Survey Satisfaction rating

Customer Satisfaction Rating 70 per cent.

Key target 5: Agency Running Costs

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 22 per cent.

¹ Key requirements for projects in the MPR have been established that define the essential characteristics of the equipment.

² Variation between in service date (ISD) approved at Main Gate (the major investment decision point) and currently predicted ISD.

³ Variation between cost approved at Main Gate and current estimate.

Ministry of Defence Police Agency

Ms Buck: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when the quinquennial review of the Ministry of Defence Police Agency will take place; and what (a) the aim of, and (b) the arrangements for, the review will be. [159534]

Dr. Moonie: The quinquennial review (QQR) of the Ministry of Defence Police (MDP) will begin in April 2001. The review will examine the role, operations and organisation of the MDP with a view to establishing the requirement for its services in the future, and how these can best be delivered.

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Work to prepare for the QQR has already begun. This has principally involved canvassing the views of the MDP's customers about its effectiveness, and gathering other information with which to assess the MDP's performance since it became an agency in April 1996. Stage one of the QQR will address three fundamental questions: to what extent is there a continuing requirement for the services currently provided by the MDP; how far could organisations other than the MDP contribute to meeting those future requirements; and, if a continuing requirement for MDP services is confirmed, what organisational configuration should it have. If continued agency status is confirmed, the second stage of the QQR will develop more detailed proposals for continuing improvements in performance and quality of service delivery.

The MDP is by no means the only organisation involved in providing policing and security services to the MOD. The review will therefore examine its interface with other practitioners (including Service police forces) to ensure that the MDP operates in a 'joined up' way with them, focusing in particular on the scope for partnership- working and the spread of best practice. It will also examine the way the relationship between the MDP and other UK police forces is evolving.

I expect to see advice arising from stage one of the review in the summer, and from stage two, if pursued, in the autumn.

The review team will consult widely with all stakeholders, including customer organisations, the MDP management team, Agency staff, the Defence Police Federation, Civil Service trades unions, other police forces, and the relevant policy staffs in MOD, the Home Office, the Department of Trade and Industry, the Treasury and the Cabinet Office. The MOD is also keen to hear the views of other organisations or individuals with an interest. These can be sent to the MDP QQR Team, Room 4113, MOD Main Building, London, SW1A 2HB.

Tornado GR4

Mr. Menzies Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) when Tornado GR4s will be given Military Aircraft Release; when the first GR4s will be deployed on operations; and if he will make a statement; [157588]

(2) what effect there will be on the United Kingdom's commitments to the Joint Rapid Reaction Force of delay in achieving Military Aircraft Release for the Tornado GR4; and if he will make a statement. [157640]

Mr. Spellar [holding answer 23 April 2001]: The Tornado GR4 achieved an initial Military Aircraft Release (MAR) in July last year and has been used extensively in training since. I refer the right hon. and learned Gentleman to the reply which my hon. Friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Defence gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Great Yarmouth (Mr. Wright) on 24 November 2000, Official Report, column 334W.

In my answer to my hon. Friend the Member for Preston (Mr. Hendrick) on 25 April 2001, Official Report, column 270W, I announced that, following further development work and extensive trials, the GR4 with improved software achieved a MAR on 10 April and we

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expect the first aircraft to be deployed operationally shortly. In the meantime, there has been no effect on the United Kingdom's ability to meet its commitments to the Joint Rapid Reaction Force which have been maintained by Tornado GR1, Jaguar and Harrier GR7 aircraft.

Nuclear Weapons

Mr. Davidson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what change there has been in the number of UK nuclear devices since May 1997. [158785]

Mr. Hoon: In line with Government intentions set out in the 1998 Strategic Defence Review, the UK now has a stockpile of less than 200 operationally available warheads.

ENVIRONMENT, TRANSPORT AND THE REGIONS

Driver Fatigue

Mr. Ben Chapman: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what estimate he has made of the number of road accidents during each of the last five years in which driver tiredness was (a) the cause and (b) a contributing factor. [158740]

Mr. Hill: Statistics on the main contributory factors in road accidents are not available. Research on behalf of the Department indicates that for car drivers in particular, driver fatigue may have been a principal factor in around 10 per cent. of accidents across the road network in Great Britain.

Mr. Ben Chapman: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what assessment he has made of research into tiredness as a cause of road accidents. [158741]

Mr. Hill: The Department began its research programme on fatigue in December 1992 and research work continues. Data from the programme have greatly improved our understanding of the effects of fatigue on driving. The results have been developed into recommendations to drivers that have been incorporated into the Highway Code. In addition, the Department launched last August a long-term programme of publicity and advice on measures to counter driver fatigue.

Mr. Ben Chapman: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions (1) what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of Tiredness Kills notices; [158405]

(2) how many Tiredness Kills signs there are on UK motorways; and where they are located. [158242]

Mr. Hill: I have asked the chief executive of the Highways Agency, Tim Matthews, to write to my hon. Friend.

Letter from Tim Matthews to Mr. Ben Chapman, dated 26 April 2001:

I have been asked by the Transport Minister Keith Hill to reply to your recent Parliamentary Questions about Tiredness Kills signs. You asked how many of these signs there are on UK motorways; where they are located; and what assessment has been made of their effectiveness.

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The Secretary of State's responsibilities and, therefore, the Agency's extend only to England, where these signs--which are usually worked "Tiredness Can Kill, Take a Break"--have been provided on the approaches to the following service areas:

A1(M) Blyth (southbound only)

M1 Leicester Forest East

M1 Toddington

M1 Trowell

M1 Woodall

M1 Wooley Edge

M2 Medway

M4 Leigh Delamere

M4 Reading

M5 Cullompton (southbound only)

M5 Exeter

M5 Frankley

M6 Burton

M6 Hilton Park

M6 Knutsford

M6 Sandbach

M6 Southwaite

M6 Stafford

M6 Tebay

M18 Doncaster North

M23 Pease Pottage

M25 Thurrock (southbound only)

M40 Cherwell Valley

M42 Tamworth

M62 Ferrybridge

M62 Hartshead Moor

M69 Leicester Forest East (northbound only)

M180 Doncaster North (westbound only)

Except where indicated, the practice is to provide one such sign on each carriageway, making a total of around fifty across the network.

We have made no systematic assessment of the effectiveness of the signs, though we do regard them as a useful reminder to motorway users of the dangers of continuing to drive when tired.

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