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18 Nov 2004 : Column 1836W—continued
Joint Personnel Administration System
Mr. Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many companies were invited to tender for the introduction of the Joint Personnel Administration system; on what basis the winner was chosen; how much weight was given to their previous record; what the original estimate was of the (a) cost and (b) expected in-service delivery date; what the current estimate is of each; and if he will make a statement. [197775]
Mr. Caplin: The Joint Personnel Administration (JPA) system is being introduced through an amendment to the service personnel administration contract won competitively by EDS Defence in 1997 that expires in 2009, when it will be re- competed.
The decision to introduce JPA via an amendment to the existing contract with EDS was made in February 2004 and took account of EDS's satisfactory performance to date on service personnel administration. The amended contract was subject to EDS completing £15 million of risk reduction work and to a satisfactory commercial agreement.
The estimated cost for EDS for build and transition to JPA was £122 million (from contract amendment onwards) with a full in-service date of April 2007.
The current estimate is that EDS costs for JPA build and transition will be around £112 million, with a full in-service date of November 2006. This cost to bring in JPA is in addition to the ongoing cost of providing personnel administration services.
18 Nov 2004 : Column 1837W
Lance Corporal Ian Blaymire
Mr. Soames: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when the transcript will be available of the court martial proceedings against Lance Corporal Ian Blaymire; and if he will place a copy in the Library. [197547]
Mr. Ingram [holding answer 11 November 2004]: It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.
Management Groups
Mr. Keith Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the responsibilities of the (a) Defence Estates, (b) Deputy Chief Defence Staff (Commitments), (c) Director Special Forces, (d) Defence Geographic and Imagery Intelligence Agency, (e) Veterans Agency, (f) Surgeon General, (g) Deputy Chief Defence Staff (Personnel), (h) Defence Secondary Care Agency and (i) Defence Dental Agency management groups. [181746]
Mr. Caplin: Most defence activity takes place outside the Ministry of Defence Head Office and is managed through 12 Top Level Budget (TLB) holders and five Trading Funds. The Permanent Secretary grants each TLB-holder extensive delegated powers over his/her resources of cash, personnel and infrastructure. Each TLB holder has a 'contract' with the MOD head office, known as a Service Delivery Agreement, which specifies the outputs required of that TLB, the resources they are given to deliver these outputs, and the underpinning performance management regime. The responsibilities of the management groupings you requested are listed as follows:
(a) Defence Estates has a mandate to deliver estate solutions to meet the armed forces' requirements for an estate of the right size and quality. The Defence Housing Executive merged with Defence Estates on 1 April 2004, thus including defence housing in Defence Estate's responsibilities.
(b) The Main duties of Deputy Chief Defence Staff (Commitments) are to provide Strategic/Military policy and advice to Ministers/Chiefs of Staff, formulate and issue Operational Guidance, including resourcing of available capability, Own and Development of the Joint Enablers and use and develop the defence Crisis Management Organisation.
(d) The Defence Geographic and Imagery Intelligence Agency is responsible for providing the imagery intelligence and geographic support to Defence policy, planning, operations and training.
(e) The Veterans Agency is responsible for providing financial and welfare support to war disabled pensioners and to war widow(er)s.
(f) The Surgeon General is responsible for setting the overall direction and policy on all clinical matters relating to the practice of medicine within the military. He is the most senior serving professional medical officer and is accountable for the overall performance of all Defence Medical Services personnel. The Surgeon General is authorised to direct the single services on the development of medical policies and common standards within their areas of responsibility, and for auditing compliance across the Defence Medical Services.
(g) The Deputy Chief of Defence Staff (Personnel) is the principal departmental military adviser on Service Personnel policy, including training and education, for all Regular Service personnel.
(h) This organisation ceased operating on 31 March 2003 following the formation of the Defence Medical Education and Training Agency.
(i) The Defence Dental Agency is responsible for the delivery of quality dental care for the armed forces and entitled civilians on operations and during peacetime.
Further information on individual defence agencies is available in the Library of the House of Commons.
Mr. Keith Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the responsibilities of the (a) Defence Fuels Group, (b) Deputy Chief of Defence Logistics, (c) Defence Communications Services Agency, (d) Defence Logistics Support HQ, (e) Defence Clothing and Textiles Agency, (f) DG Equipment Support (Land), (g) DG Equipment Support Air, (h) Warship Support Agency, (i) Defence Storage and Distribution Agency, (j) Director Land Service Ammunition, (k) Defence Transport and Movement Agency and (l) British Forces Post Office management groups. [181781]
Mr. Caplin: Most defence activity takes place outside the Ministry of Defence Head Office and is managed through 12 Top Level Budget (TLB) holders and five Trading Funds. The Permanent Secretary grants each TLB-holder extensive delegated powers over his/her resources of cash, personnel and infrastructure. Each TLB holder has a "contract" with the MOD head office, known as a Service Delivery Agreement, which specifies the outputs required of that TLB, the resources they are given to deliver these outputs, and the underpinning performance management regime. The responsibilities of the management groupings you requested are listed below:
(a) The Defence Fuels Group is responsible for the supply and management of fuels, lubricants and gases in support of all three Services.
(b) The Deputy Chief of Defence Logistics is a person and not an organisation. He assists the Chief of Defence Logistics in managing the Defence Logistics Organisation, in particular chairing its Executive Board.
(c) The Defence Communication Services Agency maximises Defence operational effectiveness by providing information and assuring the delivery of information solutions within the deployed and fixed environments.
(e) The Defence Clothing and Textiles Agency is now the Defence Clothing Integrated Project Team. It is the organisation responsible for the development, procurement, and supply management of clothing for the UK armed forces and civilians.
(f) DG Equipment Support (Land) and (g) DG Equipment Support (Air) have not existed as management groups since 1 April 2004.
(h) The Warship Support Agency (WSA) exists to provide logistic support to the Royal Navy Fleet and other maritime elements of the UK armed forces that have been passed into service from the Defence Procurement Agency.
(i) The Defence Storage and Distribution Agency is responsible for providing material distribution, processing and storage service to sustain the fighting power of UK armed forces worldwide.
(j) The Director Land Service Ammunition ceased as an organisation in April 2000 when it merged with Project Management Ammunition from the Defence Procurement Agency to form the Defence General Munitions (DGM)
- Integrated Project Team (IPT). The DGM IPT is responsible for the acquisition, supply, management and disposal of all in-service munitions to the three Services.
(k) The Defence Transport and Movement Agency provides transport and movements services worldwide in peace, crisis and war in order to support UK military capability.
(l) The British Forces Post Office receives, collects, sorts, secures and delivers classified items to MOD establishments, other Government Departments, List X companies, HM ships and theatres worldwide.
Further information on individual defence agencies is available in the Library of the House of Commons.
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