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18 Dec 2007 : Column 1451W—continued
Armed Forces: Prosthetics
Richard Younger-Ross: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what prosthetic limbs his Department provides for servicemen and women for limbs lost in service. [172890]
Derek Twigg: Prosthetic limbs supplied are as follows:
| Limb | Type | Manufacturer |
Armed Forces: Public Opinion
Mr. Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) how much his Department has spent on (a) quantitative and (b) qualitative opinion research of (i) serving and (ii) former members of the armed forces; [173364]
(2) what use his Department has made of (a) focus groups and (b) other qualitative or quantitative opinion research of (i) serving and (ii) former members of the armed forces. [173365]
Derek Twigg: It is in the interests of the MOD to have a good understanding of the realities and concerns facing their personnel. The Ministry of Defence, therefore, conducts a wide variety of research among Serving personnel and former members of the armed forces using internal resources and through outside research and academic institutions.
These surveys and focus groups, which have been running in various forms for decades, can look at everything from attitudes about Service life to surveys that investigate physical and psychological health. The resulting data form part of the body of evidence that is used to inform the development of policies that better reflect the lives of Service personnel.
This Research is available across the MOD and Service areas but is not centrally administered so it is not possible to provide total costs for all surveys conducted without disproportionate cost.
Armed Forces: Training
Mr. Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) whether the original bidders for the Defence Training Rationalisation programme Package 2 will be invited to bid on the revised procurement strategy; [174183]
(2) whether the change in procurement strategy for the Defence Training Rationalisation Programme Package 2 will require (a) more time and (b) additional expenditure for the programme; [174239]
(3) what the proposed revised procurement strategy for the Defence Training Rationalisation Programme Package 2 is; whether the revised strategy was among the options initially considered; why the strategy initially chosen was not proceeded with; and if he will make a statement. [174240]
Derek Twigg: As I stated in my written ministerial statement on 25 October 2007, Official Report, column 15 WS, Defence Training Rationalisation Package 2 is the subject of further work focusing on how best to improve our accommodation and training facilities to meet the strategic objectives of the Defence Training Review Rationalisation Programme. A range of options are being considered from a conventional procurement to an adaptation to Metrix's original proposals. At this stage it would be inappropriate to provide further details on the cost, timescale or procurement strategy. However, I shall provide an update on the programme next year when this work has matured.
Mr. Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what has been the cost of the work carried out on the Defence Training Rationalisation programme Package 2 by (a) his Department and (b) each of the principal bidders. [174288]
Derek Twigg: To date the cost of Package 2 work carried out by the Department is approximately £11.5 million. The Department has no visibility of the cost incurred by the bidders.
Mr. Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what estimate he has made of the impact on the (a) capital and (b) running costs of the defence training rationalisation programme Package 1 of the elimination of Package 2 from consideration; and if he will make a statement. [174306]
Derek Twigg: As I stated in my written ministerial statement on 25 October 2007, Official Report, column 15WS the Package 2 is the subject of further work focusing on how best to improve our accommodation and training facilities to meet the strategic objectives of the defence training review rationalisation programme. As both Packages remain contractually separate there is no impact on the costs of Metrix's Package 1 proposal as a result of this further work on Package 2.
Dr. Fox: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many hours each day military units may train at the Otterburn training area. [174488]
Derek Twigg: Units may train on the Otterburn Training Area for a total of 300 days per year. During that time dry training (no live firing) can be conducted over the full 24-hour period, seven days a week. Live firing is restricted within the 300 day period as follows:
| Times | |
Mr. Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what requests his Department has received from each of the principal bidders under the Defence Training Rationalisation Programme Package 2 for compensation for nugatory activity; and how much has been requested in (a) each case and (b) total. [174641]
Derek Twigg: To date no compensation requests for nugatory activity have been received from principal bidders involved in the DTR Package 2 competition.
Charities: Fees and Charges
Nick Harvey: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will provide a break down of the costs charged to the Army Benevolent Fund for the use of the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst on 22, 23 and 24 September 2006 for the Music on Fire event. [163147]
Derek Twigg: Each application for the use of Ministry of Defence land for fund raising or other purposes is considered on its individual merits and an appropriate system of charges is applied. A charge of £7,041.01 was raised against the Army Benevolent Fund (ABF) for the use of the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst, for the Music on Fire Event held in 2006. This total contained VAT of £1,049, commercial insurance of £2,500 and a Defence Estates licence fee of £100. I am withholding a more detailed breakdown of costs as its release would, or would be likely to, prejudice commercial interests. However, the charges reflect an abated figure of the full amount permissible in accordance with Treasury Government accounting rules.
Christmas
Mr. Philip Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how much his Department and its agencies have spent on Christmas (a) cards, (b) parties and (c) decorations in each of the last five years. [171437]
Derek Twigg: MOD expenditure on Christmas cards has been:
| £ | |
These figures include printing, purchase and postage, but exclude a small amount spent by Defence attachés (for permitted representational purposes) which is not identifiable without disproportionate cost. The sending of Christmas cards at public expense is governed by the principles of Managing Public Money, regulated by departmental guidance on financial procedures and propriety, and must be in pursuit of specific Defence objectives.
Staff Christmas parties and building decorations are paid for from non-public funds or staff subscription. The exception is the contracted-out facilities management services for the Main Building and Old War Office Building in Whitehall, which include an annual £5,000 provision for Christmas decorations in reception areas.
Departmental Aviation
Mr. Hayes: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what his Department's policy is on recycling. [174404]
Derek Twigg: The Ministry of Defence policy on recycling is fully aligned with the overall objective of Government policy on waste to protect human health and the environment by producing less waste and by using it as a resource wherever possible. Our sustainable approach to waste management involves reduction, re-use and recycling.
The Department's policy is that non-hazardous waste products—especially those from offices—should be recycled. This includes, for example, paper, glass, aluminium cans, fluorescent tubes, printer cartridges, and toners. Where suitable recycling infrastructure exists, waste metals, oils, building rubble and similar waste streams should also be consigned to recycling.
MOD policy is that all procurement decisions should take into account the maximum potential for recycling of procured items, and the maximum use of products based on recycled materials. Use of recycled materials should be considered if they are fit for purpose, meet technical specification requirements and cost the same or less than new products.
More information on MODs policy on waste management can be found in Joint Service Publication (JSP) 418, the MOD Sustainable Development and Environment Manual, a copy of which can be found in the Library of the House. In addition, MOD has published a Sustainable Waste Management Strategy, which can be found at:
Departmental Corporate Hospitality
David Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence on how many occasions he has accepted corporate hospitality in the last 12 months. [171316]
Des Browne: Chapter 7 of the Ministerial Code sets out the rules on the registration of hospitality.
Departmental Data Protection
Mr. Philip Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) what reviews have been undertaken of his Department's rules on data protection in the last two years; if he will place in the Library a copy of the report of the last review of his Department's compliance with data protection laws; and if (a) his Department and (b) his Department's agencies will undertake a review of their compliance with data protection laws; [168086]
(2) on how many occasions in (a) his Department and (b) its agencies confidential data have been downloaded on to compact discs (i) without and (ii) with encryption in the last 12 month period for which figures are available; how many of those discs have been posted without using recorded or registered delivery; what procedures his Department has in place for the (A) transport, (B) exchange and (C) delivery of confidential or sensitive data; what records are kept of information held by his Department being sent outside the Department; what changes have been made to his Department's rules and procedures on data protection in the last two years; on how many occasions his Department's procedures and rules on data protection have been breached in the last five years; what those breaches were; what procedures his Department has in place on downloading confidential data on to computer discs before their transfer; what technical protections there are in his Department's computer systems to prevent access to information held on those systems which is not in accordance with departmental procedures; and if he will place in the Library a copy of each of his Department's rules and procedures on the protection of confidential data on individuals, businesses and other organisations; [168252]
(3) how many employees of each grade in his Department (a) have access to confidential or sensitive data and (b) are authorised to download such data to disc; how many of his Department's employees have undergone data protection training in the last 12 months; what the average length of time is that each employee of (i) his Department and (ii) his Department's agencies has spent on data protection training; how many investigations of employees of his Department for improperly accessing confidential information have taken place in the last 12 months; how many such investigations resulted in cases of disciplinary action; and what the circumstances of each of those cases were. [168272]
Mr. Vara: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) on how many occasions the Information Commissioner was contacted by his Department to report breaches of data protection security in each of the last five years; [168813]
(2) how many breaches of data protection security there were in (a) his Department and (b) his Department's agencies in each of the last five years; and if he will provide details of each breach. [168827]
Tom Brake: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether he proposes to review how his Department transports data; and whether his Department uses TNT to transport data. [169217]
Mr. Rob Wilson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many breaches of the Data Protection Act 1998 requiring investigation there have been in the last five years in his Department; what the nature of such breaches were; and what the results of the investigations were in each case. [169260]
Mr. Evans: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many confirmed data security breaches there have been in his Department in the last 36 months; and what action was taken after each occurrence. [169897]
Des Browne: I refer the hon. Member to the statement made by right hon. Friend the Prime Minister on 21 November 2007, Official Report, column 1179. The review by the Cabinet Secretary and security experts is looking at procedures within Departments and agencies for the storage and use of data. A statement on Departments’ procedures will be made on completion of the review.
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