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Merlin Helicopters

Mr. Quentin Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the unit production cost is of Merlin helicopters. [3528]

Dr. Moonie [holding answer 17 July 2001]: I will write to the hon. Member and a copy of my letter will be placed in the Library of the House.

Absence

David Maclean: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many days on average were lost per employee in his Department because of sickness; and how many officials retired early from his Department in each of the past 10 years. [R] [5061]

Dr. Moonie: I will write to the right hon. Member and a copy of my letter will be placed in the Library of the House.

Petrol Stations

Dr. Cable: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what studies she has carried out on areas of the UK that are disadvantaged through the recent closure of large numbers of retail petrol stations; and if she will make a statement. [5306]

Miss Melanie Johnson: The Department has not carried out any studies. The Government are committed to ensuring that a free and open market between fuel suppliers operates within the UK petrol retail sector to the benefit of consumers. The Director General of Fair Trading continues to monitor the market to ensure that anti-competitive behaviour does not occur.

Future Strategic Tanker Aircraft

Mr. Cameron: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the timetable is for receiving bids and awarding contracts for the Future Strategic Tanker Aircraft; and if he will make a statement. [5621]

Dr. Moonie: Bids for this prospective PFI project were received from two consortia on 3 July. We currently anticipate taking a formal investment decision on the programme in 2002, including selection of a preferred bidder should PFI remain the best value-for-money solution. The earliest contract award is scheduled for the first quarter of 2003.

Chemicals (Disposal)

Ms Atherton: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will publish past and current methods of treatment for (a) pralidoxime mesylato, (b) arsenic chloride and (c) a mixture of ethylphosphonyl dichloride and ethylphosphonyl difluoride before disposal. [5790]

20 Jul 2001 : Column: 709W

Dr. Moonie: The materials are no longer prepared in large scale in the Ministry of Defence and bulk treatment methods are not currently required. All laboratory waste is now incinerated or sent to a hazardous waste contractor as appropriate.

The following information outlines the procedures used for disposal of these chemicals during the decommissioning of Nancekuke in 1980. Pralidoxime mesylate was dissolved in water and treated with sodium hypochlorite (bleach) before being discharged into the sea though the effluent system.

Arsenic Chloride was hydrolysed in water and the product was treated with sodium hypochlorite. This was then diluted into the effluent system until the sodium arsenate discharged was less than 234 parts per million.

The mixture of ethylphosphonyl dichloride and ethylphosphonyl difluoride was hydrolysed then neutralised, probably with caustic soda, before being diluted and discharged into the sea through the effluent system.

Barton Stacey

Sandra Gidley: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) when the Out of Bounds for All Purposes areas will be reviewed in Barton Stacey; and if he intends to include all residential properties on his Department's land at Barton Stacey in the review; [5439]

(2) if he will made a statement on Defence Estates' refusal to respond to requests for repair at Moody's farmhouse, Barton Stacey; [5437]

(3) if he will make a statement on the future of the first floor flat, Moody's farmhouse, Barton Stacey, operated by Defence Estates; [5441]

(4) if he will suspend work on Moody's farmhouse at Barton Stacey pending an inquiry; [5440]

(5) what assessment he has made of the future accommodation needs of non-commissioned officers in Barton Stacey; and if he will made a statement; [5438]

(6) what assessment he has made of the spare capacity of his Department's housing stock in Barton Stacey; and if he will make a statement. [5442]

Dr. Moonie: I will write to the hon. Member and a copy of my letter will be placed in the Library of the House.

Joint Strike Fighter

Mr. Quentin Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the UK's participation in the down select stage of the Joint Strike Fighter programme. [6202]

Dr. Moonie: I will write to the hon. Member and a copy of my letter will be placed in the Library of the House.

Submarines

Mr. Quentin Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the cost of each of the Trafalgar Class submarines was. [6203]

20 Jul 2001 : Column: 710W

Dr. Moonie: I will write to the hon. Member and a copy of my letter will be placed in the Library of the House.

Defence Intelligence and Security Centre

Ann McKechin: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what plans there are for the conduct of the Quinquennial Review of the Defence Intelligence and Security Centre Defence Agency. [6456]

Mr. Ingram: The Defence Intelligence and Security Centre (DISC) Defence Agency is responsible for the training of the armed forces and other intelligence agencies in intelligence and security disciplines; to maintain an operational capability; and to contribute to effective and timely advice to the armed forces on appropriate intelligence and security matters. A review of the DISC will be conducted by a team of military and civilian personnel under the leadership of a Ministry of Defence civil servant. The work will be overseen by a Steering Group chaired by the Director General Intelligence Collection, who is the owner of the agency.

The review will be conducted in two phases. Phase 1 will conduct a challenging examination of the current arrangements, taking into account the requirements and views of customers, staff and other stakeholders, and identify organisational/structural options for future service provision. Phase 1, for which preliminary work has already been set in hand, is expected to be completed by the end of October 2001.

Following consultations, Phase 2 will develop detailed proposals for improvements in performance and service delivery, and is expected to be completed by the end of February 2002.

There will be a consultation with stakeholders throughout the process, but the Ministry of Defence is also keen to hear the views of other interested parties, including suggestions for improvements to the provision of services. Any comments should be sent by 15 September 2001 addressed to:

The Head of the Defence Intelligence and Security Centre Review Team

Room 302

Old War Office Building

Whitehall

London SW1A 2EU.

Manning Agencies

Mr. Hendrick: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what plans there are for the conduct of quinquennial reviews of the three services manning agencies. [6457]

Mr. Ingram: Reviews of the three agencies—the Naval Manning Agency, the Army Personnel Centre and the RAF Personnel Manning Agency—whose core business centres upon the posting and career development of service personnel, will be conducted in parallel by a single team of military and civilian personnel under the leadership of a senior Ministry of Defence civil servant. The work will be overseen by a Steering Group chaired by the Director General of Service Personnel Policy.

20 Jul 2001 : Column: 711W

Conducting the reviews in parallel will allow the study team to look across the three agencies to identify more broadly ways to improve the means by which services and functions are achieved. Phase I will conduct a challenging examination of the current arrangements, taking into account the requirements and views of customers, staff and other stakeholders, and identify organisational/ structural options for future service provision. Phase I, for which preliminary work has already been set in hand, is expected to be completed by the end of September 2001.

Following consultations, Phase 2 will develop detailed proposals for improvements in performance and service delivery, and is expected to be completed by the end of December 2001.

There will be consultation with stakeholders throughout the process, but the Ministry of Defence is also keen to hear the views of other interested parties, including suggestions for improvements to the provision of services. Any comments should be sent by 15 September 2001 addressed to:

The Head of the Services Manning Agencies


Quinquennial Reviews Team


Open Plan Area


2nd Floor St. Giles Court


1–13 St. Giles High Street


London WC2H 8LD.

Armed Forces Personnel Administration Agency

Sandra Osborne: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what key targets have been set for the Armed Forces Personnel Administration Agency for 2001–02. [6518]

Dr. Moonie: The Key Targets have been set for the Chief Executive of the Armed Forces Personnel Administration Agency for the financial year 2001–02. The targets build upon progress made by the agency since it formed on 1 April 1997 and are as follows:

Pay, Allowances and Pensions Payments

While making 100 per cent. of payments of pay, allowances and pensions by the due date, the number of errors per 1,000 payments not to exceed 2.0 for pay and allowances and 1.5 for pensions.

Currency of Personnel Records and Liabilities Data

Update all time-critical records within two days from receipt of valid input.

Responsiveness

Resolve 95 per cent. of inquiries, including written and official help desk responses, within 10 working days of receipt, across all Services where information and/or authority is within AFPAA control.

Efficiency

To reduce the average unit costs to deliver AFPAA services by 3 per cent. in year.

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