House of Commons Hansard Written Answers for 25 Feb 2002 (pt 2)

Invoice Payments

Mr. Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the instances in which his Department, agencies and non-departmental public bodies failed to pay valid invoices within 30 days or after the agreed credit period in the financial year 2000–01. [32030]

Dr. Moonie: The majority of the Ministry of Defence bills (some 95 per cent.) are paid by the Defence Bills Agency (DBA) which paid 100 per cent. of correctly presented bills within 30 days in the financial year 2000–01. The balance of the MOD's payments was made by the MOD's Trading Fund Agencies. Their performance against the 30 day target was as follows: Defence Evaluation and Research Agency 94.4 per cent.; Meteorological Office 99.9 per cent.; and the Hydrographic Office 98.5 per cent.

Royal Ordnance

Mr. Kevan Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what plans there are for Royal Ordnance to source ammunition from overseas for MOD needs. [33028]

Dr. Moonie: The Ministry of Defence places contracts with RO Defence as the prime contractor for ammunition. The sourcing of ammunition and its component parts is a

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commercial decision that rests with the prime contractor. RO Defence is contracted to supply ammunition which is safe and suitable for use, provides both value for money and security of supply, and meets all the stringent requirements for UK service.

Data Protection Act

Matthew Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the Department's procedure is for responding to requests for information under the Data Protection Act 1998; if he will place a copy in the Library; and if he will make a statement. [33482]

Dr. Moonie: Subject Access Requests (SARs) can be received at any level within the Ministry of Defence. Guidance on answering SARs has been cascaded throughout the MOD and its Agencies to a comprehensive network of data protection focal points for data protection issues. Different areas will have their own procedures to ensure compliance with MOD Guidance and the Data Protection Act. Departmental Guidance is regularly reviewed and updated as we continue to evaluate and develop our procedures. A copy of the current Guidance Notes will be placed in the Library of the House.

Matthew Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) what administration fees are charged by the Department for information requests made under the Data Protection Act 1998; [33461]

(a)

(b)

(c)

(3) how many responses the Department has completed to requests for information made under the Data Protection Act 1998 for (a) electronically held information and (b) paper documentation; [33575]

(4) what percentage of responses to requests for information under the Data Protection Act 1998 the Department has completed (a) within 40 days of receipt of the £10 fee, (b) between 40 and 60 days of and (c) over 60 days after receiving the administration fee; [33468]

(5) what the policy of the Department is for ensuring responses to requests for information under the Data Protection Act 1998 are completed within 40 days; and what their procedure is to achieve this; [33475]

(6) what the period of time elapsed is for the oldest outstanding request for information under the Data Protection Act 1998, since receipt of the (a) original request and (b) administration fee; [33450]

(7) what his estimate is of the average cost of processing each information request under the Data Protection Act 1998; [33440]

(8) how many responses to requests for information under the Data Protection Act 1998 have been completed (a) within 40 days, (b) between 40 and 60 days and (c) over 60 days after receiving the original letter; and how many are still outstanding; [33570]

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(9) what the longest period of time elapsed is between receiving (a) the administration fee and providing the information requested and (b) a request for information and providing the information requested, under the Data Protection Act 1998; [33454]

(10) how many requests the Department has received under the Data Protection Act 1988 for (a) electronically held information and (b) paper documentation. [33582]

Dr. Moonie: The Ministry of Defence does not hold information centrally relating to the number or format of Subject Access Requests (SAR) received. Nor do we hold information centrally about the type of documentation requested. There is no requirement in the Act, or by the Information Commissioner to collate such information centrally therefore we have not set up such an arrangement.

However, Guidance on answering Subject Access Requests in compliance with the Data Protection Act 1998 has been cascaded throughout the MOD and its Agencies to a comprehensive network of nominated data protection focal points for data protection issues who monitor performance in their own area. As SARs can be received anywhere within the MOD, to collate this information would require us to contact all the different areas and assemble the information in a compatible format. Such an exercise would involve disproportionate effort. The Act provides that a data controller is not obliged to answer a SAR unless he has received a request in writing, the fee payable and sufficient information to confirm the identity of the applicant and to locate the information sought. The MOD currently does not make a charge for SAR.

Golden Jubilee

Mr. Yeo: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what events (a) he is and (b) other Ministers in his Department are planning to attend as part of the Golden Jubilee celebrations; and what events his Department is planning to arrange to celebrate the Golden Jubilee. [33256]

Mr. Ingram [holding answer 4 February 2002]: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to him by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport on 11 February, Official Report, columns 58–59W.

Golden Jubilee Medal

Mr. Djanogly: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence for what reason members of the RAF Reserve are not eligible to receive the Queen's Golden Jubilee Medal. [36499]

Dr. Moonie: The RAF Reserve is divided into two broad categories, volunteer member and those former members of the Regular RAF who have a liability for a period of reserve service. Those volunteer members who were in effective military service on 6 February 2002 and had completed five annual bounty earning training years prior to that date are eligible to receive the Queen's Golden Jubilee Medal (QGJM).

Ex-Regular members of the RAF Reserve will not have qualified for the QGJM unless on 6 February 2002 they had been called out for permanent service and their

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aggregated Regular service and/or Volunteer Reserve service totalled five years. Some Ministry of Defence civil servants who are required to wear service uniform as part of their terms of employment, are commissioned into the RAF Reserve (Civil Component). They are employed on civil service terms and conditions and so will not qualify for the medal, as is the case for civil servants generally.

Public Bodies (Chairmen)

Mr. Forth: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the appointments made by his Department since 1 May 1997 of chairmen of (a) non-departmental public bodies, (b) commissions, (c) inquiries, (d) agencies and (e) task forces; and if he will list their (i) term of office, (ii) salary and (iii) known political affiliation (A) past and (B) present. [33891]

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Dr. Moonie: Details of the appointments of Chairmen of Ministry of Defence-sponsored non-departmental public bodies are set out in the table. Information is not collected on the political affiliation of appointees.

The MOD has not appointed a Chairman to any commissions, public inquiries or agencies since 1 May 1997.

Information on the number, remit and membership of task forces, ad hoc advisory groups and reviews is published by the Cabinet Office on a regular basis. The first report was published on 11 January 2000 and gives information for the period from 1 May 1997 to 31 October 1999. A second report was published on 27 July 2000 and covered the period 1 November 1999 to 30 April 2000. A third report was published on 13 December 2000 covering the period 1 May 2000 to 31 October 2000. The most recent report, "Task Forces, Ad Hoc Advisory Groups and Reviews", was issued in October 2001 and covers the period of the financial year 2000–01. Copies of these reports have been placed in the Library of the House.

NDPB chairman appointments in MOD since 1 May 1997

Name of body Chairman Date of appointment Appointment ends Salary

Advisory Committee on Conscientious Objectors His Honour Judge Rogers⁽²⁾ 27 October 1997 23 October 1999 £178 per day

Advisory Group on Medical Countermeasures Name withheld⁽³⁾ 1 February 1998 No date⁽⁴⁾ £265 per day

Animal Welfare Advisory Committee Dr. Robert Hubrecht 13 July 2000 April 2002 £250 per day

Armed Forces Pay Review Body Right hon. Baroness Dean of Thornton-le-Fylde 1 April 1999 31 March 2002 Nil

Dartmoor Steering Group Mr. James Woollcombe 18 December 2000 17 December 2003 Nil

Defence Nuclear Safety Committee Dr. Sam Harbison CB 1 January 2000 1 January 2005 £315 per day

Defence Scientific Advisory Council Professor Anthony Ledwith 11 August 2000 31 March 2003 £315 per day

Independent Board of Visitors to the Military Corrective Training Centre Mr. R Jacklin 1 January 1998 and 4 April 2001 1 June 2006 Nil

National Army Museum General Sir John Waters GCB CBE JP 1 July 1997 and 30 March 2001 30 March 2002 Nil

National Employers Liaison Committee Mr. John Bridgeman CBE TD DL 1 December 1997 1 December 2002 Nil

Nuclear Research Advisory Council Dr. Derek Robinson 1 October 2001 1 October 2006 £315 per day

Oil and Pipelines Agency Dr. John Hastie 8 July 1999 7 July 2002 £9,800 per year

Review Board for Government Contracts Sir Peter Webster 17 March 1999 30 September 2001 £10,990 per year

RAF Museum⁽⁵⁾ AM Ian McFayden 4 May 1999 (elected Chair September 1999) February 2001 Nil

ACM Sir Richard Johns 7 December 2000 (elected Chair February 2001) 6 December 2003 Nil

Royal Marines Museum Lieutenant General Sir Henry Beverley 1 May 1997 1 May 2003 Nil

Royal Military College of Science Advisory Council Mr. Peter Gershon 9 October 2000 8 October 2005 £110 per day

Royal Naval Museum Vice Admiral Sir Barry Wilson KCB 15 March 1999 and 9 January 2002 15 March 2003 Nil

Royal Navy Submarine Museum Vice Admiral Sir Roy Newman 1 August 1999 1 August 2004 Nil

War Pensions Committees—Northern Ireland Major Gordon Dodds MBE 1 January 2001 31 December 2003 Nil

War Pensions Committees—West of Scotland Mr. Derek Evans 1 January 2001 31 December 2003 Nil

War Pensions Committees—East of Scotland Mr. Arthur Oliver 1 January 2001 31 December 2003 Nil

War Pensions Committees—Yorkshire and Humberside Mrs. Jane Gummer MBE JP DL LLB 1 January 2001 31 December 2003 Nil

War Pensions Committees—North West England Lieutenant Colonel Stephen Overton 1 January 2001 31 December 2003 Nil

War Pensions Committees—East Midlands Mrs. Irene Shiels 1 January 2001 31 December 2003 Nil

War Pensions Committees—West Midlands Mr. Anthony Hartley-Woolley 1 January 2001 31 December 2003 Nil

War Pensions Committees—Eastern England Lieutenant Colonel Ray Holland OBE 1 January 2001 31 December 2003 Nil

War Pensions Committees—South East England Ms Penny Melville-Brown 1 January 2001 31 December 2003 Nil

War Pensions Committees—London Air Commodore Jack Hargreaves 1 January 2001 31 December 2003 Nil

War Pensions Committees—South West England Major Tim Tyler 1 January 2001 31 December 2003 Nil

Name of body	Chairman	Date of appointment	Appointment ends	Salary
Advisory Committee on Conscientious Objectors	His Honour Judge Rogers⁽²⁾	27 October 1997	23 October 1999	£178 per day
Advisory Group on Medical Countermeasures	Name withheld⁽³⁾	1 February 1998	No date⁽⁴⁾	£265 per day
Animal Welfare Advisory Committee	Dr. Robert Hubrecht	13 July 2000	April 2002	£250 per day
Armed Forces Pay Review Body	Right hon. Baroness Dean of Thornton-le-Fylde	1 April 1999	31 March 2002	Nil
Dartmoor Steering Group	Mr. James Woollcombe	18 December 2000	17 December 2003	Nil
Defence Nuclear Safety Committee	Dr. Sam Harbison CB	1 January 2000	1 January 2005	£315 per day
Defence Scientific Advisory Council	Professor Anthony Ledwith	11 August 2000	31 March 2003	£315 per day
Independent Board of Visitors to the Military Corrective Training Centre	Mr. R Jacklin	1 January 1998 and 4 April 2001	1 June 2006	Nil
National Army Museum	General Sir John Waters GCB CBE JP	1 July 1997 and 30 March 2001	30 March 2002	Nil
National Employers Liaison Committee	Mr. John Bridgeman CBE TD DL	1 December 1997	1 December 2002	Nil
Nuclear Research Advisory Council	Dr. Derek Robinson	1 October 2001	1 October 2006	£315 per day
Oil and Pipelines Agency	Dr. John Hastie	8 July 1999	7 July 2002	£9,800 per year
Review Board for Government Contracts	Sir Peter Webster	17 March 1999	30 September 2001	£10,990 per year
RAF Museum⁽⁵⁾	AM Ian McFayden	4 May 1999 (elected Chair September 1999)	February 2001	Nil
	ACM Sir Richard Johns	7 December 2000 (elected Chair February 2001)	6 December 2003	Nil
Royal Marines Museum	Lieutenant General Sir Henry Beverley	1 May 1997	1 May 2003	Nil
Royal Military College of Science Advisory Council	Mr. Peter Gershon	9 October 2000	8 October 2005	£110 per day
Royal Naval Museum	Vice Admiral Sir Barry Wilson KCB	15 March 1999 and 9 January 2002	15 March 2003	Nil
Royal Navy Submarine Museum	Vice Admiral Sir Roy Newman	1 August 1999	1 August 2004	Nil
War Pensions Committees—Northern Ireland	Major Gordon Dodds MBE	1 January 2001	31 December 2003	Nil
War Pensions Committees—West of Scotland	Mr. Derek Evans	1 January 2001	31 December 2003	Nil
War Pensions Committees—East of Scotland	Mr. Arthur Oliver	1 January 2001	31 December 2003	Nil
War Pensions Committees—Yorkshire and Humberside	Mrs. Jane Gummer MBE JP DL LLB	1 January 2001	31 December 2003	Nil
War Pensions Committees—North West England	Lieutenant Colonel Stephen Overton	1 January 2001	31 December 2003	Nil
War Pensions Committees—East Midlands	Mrs. Irene Shiels	1 January 2001	31 December 2003	Nil
War Pensions Committees—West Midlands	Mr. Anthony Hartley-Woolley	1 January 2001	31 December 2003	Nil
War Pensions Committees—Eastern England	Lieutenant Colonel Ray Holland OBE	1 January 2001	31 December 2003	Nil
War Pensions Committees—South East England	Ms Penny Melville-Brown	1 January 2001	31 December 2003	Nil
War Pensions Committees—London	Air Commodore Jack Hargreaves	1 January 2001	31 December 2003	Nil
War Pensions Committees—South West England	Major Tim Tyler	1 January 2001	31 December 2003	Nil

⁽²⁾ Appointed by the Lord Chancellor

⁽³⁾ Name withheld under Exemption 12 (privacy of an individual) of the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information.

⁽⁴⁾ The AGMC was not an NDPB at the date of this appointment, and there was no specific term of office stated. Now that AGMC was classified as an NDPB, all members' terms of office will be reviewed formally to specify appropriate length of service.

⁽⁵⁾ Ministers appoint Trustees to the Board of the RAF Museum, which then elects a Chair from among its members.

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