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7 Jan 2003 : Column 47W—continued
Logistics Stocks (Gulf)
Mr. Keetch: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what logistics stocks are (a) in and (b) in transit to the Gulf region. [87920]
Mr. Hoon [holding answer 18 December 2002]: The logistic stocks that are currently held in the Gulf are maintained at a level commensurate with current operational commitments, and replenished as necessary to ensure that our armed forces can continue to meet those tasks.
Management Costs
Patrick Mercer: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the cost was of Ministry of Defence (a) head office and (b) other management costs in (i) 1997 and (ii) in the last 12 months; and what the difference was expressed in percentage terms. [88367]
Dr. Moonie: Taken together, the total cost of the Ministry of Defence head office and the other high-level management costs within the Ministry of Defence in the last financial year (2001–02) has been broadly estimated to be around #0.7 billion, although work is currently in hand to produce a more refined figure. The head office element of this figure (based on personnel costs) is around #140 million. The MOD has a target to achieve a 13 per cent. reduction in the overall head office and other management costs by 31 March 2006.
Comparative figures for head office and management costs for 1997 are not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
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Ministerial Engagements
Mr. Andrew Turner: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many engagements were undertaken outside London (a) by him or his predecessor and (b) by ministers in his Department in January (i) 2000, (ii) 2001 and (iii) 2002. [87358]
Dr. Moonie [holding answer 16 December 2002]: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to him by my hon. Friend the Minister of State, Cabinet Office on 16 December 2002, Official Report, column 608W.
Nimrod and Astute Contracts
Jim Dobbin : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what discussions (a) Sir Robert Walmsley and (b) other Defence Procurement Agency officials have had with BAE Systems relating to monetary amounts connected to resolving issues on the Nimrod and Astute contracts; and whether the Defence Procurement Agency made agreements with BAE Systems concerning the Nimrod and Astute contracts. [88353]
Mr. Hoon: As my hon. Friend the Under-Secretary of State for Defence indicated in his answer on 10 December 2002, Official Report, columns 222–23W to the hon. Member for North Essex (Mr. Jenkin) officials have been in urgent discussions with BAE SYSTEMS to examine the consequences of the slippage to the first flight of the Nimrod MRA4 and to explore how best to proceed. The present contract has not been amended and no contractual undertaking of any kind has been made by either party as to how to proceed. Officials are also in discussion with BAE Systems on a range of issues concerning the Astute contract.
No assurances have been given regarding the outcome of these discussions and as yet no agreements have been reached. We are, however, prepared to explore those areas where the scope of the contracts could be varied, where this would offer value for money for the taxpayer and where it would be in the nation's defence interest.
As a major supplier to MOD, BAE Systems officials have many and regular meetings with Sir Robert Walmsley on a range of projects, including Astute and Nimrod.
Mr. Crausby : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether Sir Robert Walmsley negotiated with officials of BAE Systems about issues arising from the Nimrod and Astute contracts; and how many meetings Sir Robert Walmsley attended with BAE Systems officials to discuss the Nimrod and Astute contracts in the last two months. [88427]
Mr. Hoon: BAE Systems is a major supplier to the Ministry of Defence. Representatives of the company have many and regular meetings with Sir Robert Walmsley on a range of projects, including Astute and Nimrod.
Overseas Postings
Patrick Mercer: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the average time for notice of new addresses given to service families on posting has been over the last 12 months. [87969]
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Dr. Moonie: Between December 2001 and November 2002, the average time from registration of an application, to the offer by the Defence Housing Executive of a new address for service family accommodation to take effect on post, was 28 days.
Procurement Projects
Patrick Mercer: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence which major procurement projects are behind schedule; and what the costs of the over-runs are (a) expressed as a percentage of the original estimated budget and (b) in real terms. [88410]
Dr. Moonie: Information as to the time and cost of 30 major defence procurement projects is published annually in the National Audit Office report on the Ministry of Defence's Major Projects Reports (MPR). The latest report, XMPR 2002", was published on 4 December 2002. Copies are available in the Library of the House.
Records Service
John McDonnell: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if (a) he and (b) his Ministers and officials have met the British Legion and ex-servicemen and women's organisations to discuss his Department's proposal for a PFI scheme for the Ministry of Defence records service. [88489]
Mr. Ingram: No Defence Ministers or officials have met the Royal British Legion and ex-servicemen and women's organisations to specifically discuss the Department's plans for the Ministry of Defence record service.
However, the Minister for Veterans, Dr. Moonie, wrote to the General Secretary of the Royal British Legion on 12 December, to confirm that the relationship between the Department and his organisation will not be affected by this proposed scheme.
John McDonnell: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what organisations he has consulted on his Department's proposals for a private finance initiative scheme for the Ministry of Defence records service. [88490]
Mr. Ingram: The Ministry of Defence consulted widely within Government on the proposed scheme. The result of that consultation is a pan-Government scheme which if approved, will include provision of record services to the following Departments or public bodies:
- Court Service
Public Record Office
Lord Chancellor's Department
Department for International Development
Department for Trade and Industry
Public Guardianship Office
Parliamentary Commissioner
Crown Prosecution Service
Home Office
Metropolitan Police Service
Food Standards Agency
Veterinary Medicines Directorate
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Sea Harrier
Mr. Gerald Howarth: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of the Sea Harrier FA2 in providing air supremacy protection for the Harrier GR7/9 when conducting ground attack missions against land targets. [86439]
Mr. Ingram: Air supremacy involves the complete denial of airspace to an opposing force, allowing operations to continue unhindered, which involves immense effort beyond the scope of any single aircraft type. The Sea Harrier can effectively contribute to the achievement of air supremacy as part of a larger coalition effort.
Air superiority is the suppression of effective enemy use of the air environment, usually within time and space limitations, and can be achieved by a variety of Air Defence aircraft, depending on the strength of the opposing forces. The ability of the FA2 to offer air superiority and protection for the Harrier GR7/9 while conducting ground attack missions is assessed as effective, either in isolation or with other Air Defence aircraft types.
Service Accommodation
Patrick Mercer: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on Project SLAM. [87973]
Dr. Moonie: I refer the hon. Member to my Written Ministerial Statement of 18 December 2002, Official Report, column 58WS.
Patrick Mercer: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what percentage of the Army's single living accommodation is in need of modernisation; what progress has been made with modernisation; when he expects modernisation to be completed; and what he expects the cost to be. [87975]
Dr. Moonie : I will write to the hon. Member and a copy of my letter will be placed in the Library of the House.
Surplus Barracks
Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what barrack accommodation is surplus to requirements in Scotland and awaiting disposal; and if he will estimate the potential (a) married and (b) single accommodation capacity of these barracks if modernised. [86062]
Dr. Moonie [holding answer 10 December 2002]: The Ministry of Defence currently has no barrack accommodation in Scotland surplus to requirement and awaiting disposal.
7 Jan 2003 : Column 51W
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