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22 Jan 2003 : Column 321W—continued
DEFENCE
Biological Agents
Mr Jenkin: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what medical advice is given to personnel in advance of their inoculation against biological agents [91040]
Dr. Moonie : Independent, expert medical advice confirms that immunisation against anthrax is safe and effective. United Kingdom Armed Forces personnel included in the voluntary immunisation programme against anthrax are encouraged to take advantage of the additional protection it provides. All personnel included in the programme are comprehensively briefed on the disease and on the vaccine, and given time to consider whether to accept it. The briefing includes an information leaflet, a video, a briefing from a commanding officer and an opportunity to speak to a doctor. All the briefing materials were drawn up with the assistance of expert medical advice. There is also a help-line, and copies of all the printed materials are available from the MOD web-site [www.mod.uk] along with links to additional information and answers to frequently asked questions.
We have announced our intention to vaccinate a small cohort of medical and NBC specialists against smallpox; I refer the hon. Member to my written ministerial statement of 2 December 2002 (Official Report, column 60WS). This small number of personnel receive detailed specialist briefing on the vaccine and on the disease.
Blood Stocks
Adam Price: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what contingency measures have been put in place to ensure there are sufficient stocks of blood and plasma available to the armed forces in the event of military action in Iraq. [91885]
Dr. Moonie: The provision of blood and blood products to the armed forces in the event of military action in Iraq is the responsibility of the Defence Medical Supplies Agency who obtain all necessary requirements from the National Blood Service in England. Arrangements are in place to ensure that all anticipated requirements will be met. In extremis, the Defence Medical Services have a limited capability to take blood in theatre.
Defence Logistics Organisation
Mr. Jenkin: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the outcome of the McKinsey report into the operations of the Defence Logistics Organisation; and what plans he has to reduce staff numbers at the Defence Logistics Organisation. [91045]
Mr. Ingram: The McKinsey report confirmed that the rationale for a fully integrated Defence Logistics Organisation (DLO) remains as persuasive now as it was at the time of the strategic defence review in 1998. The DLO has made real, demonstrable progress towards its strategic objectives, while continuing to provide a high level of support to operations and exercises. The McKinsey report identifies the key principles that will underpin the long-term strategy for
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logistics support, and proposes improvements in the three core logistics processes (procurement, engineering and asset management, and materiel flow), many of which build on existing good practice within the DLO. The key principles and performance targets are embedded in the new DLO strategic plan, and work to deliver against these objectives is being taken forward in the DLO change programme. McKinsey also identified a need for wider end-to-end review of the logistics processes in the land and air environments, and this is now the subject of a separate follow up study that will report in the summer.
Staff numbers in the DLO are reducing as a result of a number of initiatives and rationalisation measures already implemented, such as the warship support modernisation initiative. The McKinsey report suggested that more significant reductions in DLO staff numbers could be achieved. More study and testing will be required before any firm conclusions can be drawn. Any reduction in staff numbers will be as a consequence of changes to modernise logistic processes and any decisions to change how the DLO's current provider functions should be undertaken in the future.
Departmental Expenditure (Newsprint)
Mr. Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the total expenditure of his Department was on newspapers, magazines and periodicals in 2002. [90528]
Dr. Moonie: Expenditure on commercial and HMSO publications, including newspapers and periodicals, by the Ministry of Defence in financial year 2001–02 was £8,070,439.67.
Departmental Fraud Investigations
Alan Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many staff have been suspended pending fraud investigation in his Department in each of the last five years. [91527]
Dr. Moonie: Reported cases of suspected fraud are recorded centrally on a summary basis only, and detailed information on the number of staff under suspension pending fraud investigation in each of the last five years could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
Alan Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many people have been found guilty of fraud offences in his Department in each of the last five years. [91528]
Dr. Moonie: I will write to my hon. Friend and a copy of my letter will be placed in the Library of the House.
Departmental Staff
Mr. Cousins: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the distribution of his Department's whole-time equivalent staff was, including the staff in agencies and other bodies reporting to him, in each Government office region and nation of the UK (a) in 1996 and (b) at the most recent available period. [90479]
Dr. Moonie: I refer my hon. Friend to the answer given to him on 15 January 2003, Official Report, column 609W, by my hon. Friend the Minister of State, Cabinet Office.
22 Jan 2003 : Column 323W
Diversification Agency
Mr. Kevan Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence which north east companies have had negotiations with the Defence Diversification Agency in each year since its inception. [91082]
Dr. Moonie: The Defence Diversification Agency has had dealings with some 417 companies through its office in the north east since it was set up in April 2001. Of these, deeper discussions have taken place with 59 companies and a listing of these companies follows:
| Name | Company |
|---|---|
| Stephen Taylor | Pyramid Design Associates |
| Lesley Sharp | NRS UK Ltd. |
| Bodycote Materials Testing | |
| Phil Kite | William Cook Defence |
| R. Nassor | Stargate Precision Engineering |
| Tony Wilkinson | Royston Engineering Group |
| Jeff Sylph | North British Tapes |
| Owen Craggs | Neptune Engineering |
| Malcolm Thomson | MM Thomson |
| Johnathan Marks | Hunter Gears Ltd. |
| Jim Broadway | EMAT |
| Steven Knaggs | Agronautics |
| David Poole | AEI Cables Ltd. |
| Mick Callan | Welwyn Components Ltd. |
| John Hartas | Synthesys |
| Jim Wallace | Seaward Electronics |
| John Morrison | Sapphire Technologies Ltd. |
| Harry Barnshaw | Teledyne Electronic Technologies |
| John Johnson | PDQ Engineering Ltd. |
| Geoff Edwards | Oxley |
| Brian Johnson | Northern Precision Engineering Ltd. |
| Terry Williamson | Rolls Royce |
| Steve Grainger | Enlgma |
| Judith Knights | Nicholsons |
| Tony Brown | Metrology Software Products Ltd |
| Nizam Balkhi | Electronics Design |
| Ian Moore | Treepax |
| Ken Rowntree | Broady Naval Flow Control |
| Peter McGowan | Mercurl Urval |
| Raymund Kelly | TRISK |
| Andrew Robson | Premier Engineering |
| Tom Trusty | Sycopel International Ltd. |
| Geoff Brumfield | AIK Crossley & Bradley |
| Glen Callender | Bibby |
| Michael Stoker | Carmichael Associates |
| Avril Leach | People 4 U |
| Steven Brown | NEBCC |
| Paul Mitchell | Orbitel Marketing |
| Richard Smith | Oxford Chemicals Ltd. |
| Paul Newman | 2Touch |
| David Bowles | NDI Ltd. |
| Barry Stoddart | Procter & Gamble |
| Arthur Chadwick | South Tyneside College |
| John Autherson | EPICC |
| Bob Marris | ETRUST |
| Dr. John Casci | Synetlx |
| Geoff Race | Northern Offshore Federation |
| Peter Lovering | Singsby Aviation |
| David Lussey | Peratech Ltd. |
| Colin Arrowsmith | ATEECC |
| Nick R. C. Goddard | Stephensson Gobin |
| Martin E. Morey | Morey Osys Technology Ltd. |
| John B. Aitchison | Alcan |
| Wayne Richardson | Senstronics |
| Jeannette Roddy | Answers Consulting |
| Mark Nails | TCS |
| Steph Hargreaves | Institute for Automotive and Manufacturing Advanced Practice (AMAP) |
| Ron Jamieson | RCID |
| George Ord | NE Innovation Centre Co. Ltd. |
22 Jan 2003 : Column 324W
External Consultants
Mr. Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the total cost to his Department was of the use of external consultants in 2002. [90513]
Dr. Moonie: The Ministry of Defence places its annual return for external assistance expenditure, which includes fees for external consultants, in the Libraries of the House. These data are collected on the basis of the financial year, and details of expenditure for 2001–02 will be published shortly. To provide this information on the basis of a calendar year, and a specific figure for the cost of external consultants, could be achieved only at disproportionate cost. The figures for 2002–03 will be collected and published once the current financial year has ended.
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