These reimbursable expenses cover costs associated with travel, parking, accommodation, subsistence and the incidental expenses allowance claimed while on duty in UK and abroad.
Mr. Philip Hammond:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how much was claimed in reimbursable expenses by press officers in his Department and its agencies in each of the last three financial years. [221181]
Derek Twigg:
This information is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
Where authorised, reimbursable expenses are provided in line with MOD Guidance and wider Government regulations.
Departmental Postal Services
Mr. Hoban:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what steps his Department has taken to monitor the cost of its mail services in the last 12 months. [221479]
Derek Twigg:
The MOD dispatches relatively little mail externally. Official mail within the Department is primarily distributed by the internal Defence Mail Service, provided by the British Forces Post Office, while mail for personnel serving overseas is usually distributed by RAF air transport. The cost of the mail service is 1 Sep 2008 : Column 1454W
monitored daily by the BFPO budget manager and evaluation meetings are held monthly with the Commander Defence Postal Services.
Most external mail is sent through the Royal Mail Group, or, exceptionally through other approved carriers, the cost of which is met and monitored by individual budget holders. These details are not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
Departmental Press
Mr. Hoban:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how much was spent by his Department on subscriptions for magazines, newspapers and other publications in each of the last 24 months. [215212]
Derek Twigg:
The Ministry of Defence has a central enabling contract with a journal supplier which all staff are encouraged to use to purchase discounted subscriptions to non-recreational periodicals in order to achieve best value for money. The contract is open to all MOD units, civilian and military, worldwide. It is primarily used for the purchase of medical, technical and academic journals in support of military health care, the equipment programme and education and training. Expenditure under the contract for the period June 2006 to May 2008 is shown in the following table:
Month
Expenditure (£)
2006
June
16,900
July
13,167
August
7,130
September
36,572
October
(1)233,66
November
64,248
December
(1)329,737
2007
January
61,683
February
32,829
March
28,053
April
59,569
May
62,797
June
17,288
July
(1)270,089
August
10,861
September
38,019
October
(1)180,107
November
25,091
December
33,859
2008
January
12,847
February
(1)371,188
March
76,095
April
7,059
May
74,847
(1) Units may choose to pay by monthly or annual payment. Annual payments account for periodic cost variations.
As use of the contract is not compulsory, some units may be using alternative suppliers. Information on expenditure under such local arrangements is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
1 Sep 2008 : Column 1455W
Departmental Procurement
David Simpson:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what his Department’s policy is on requesting discounts from its suppliers in return for swift payment of invoices. [220437]
Mr. Bob Ainsworth:
It is the Department’s policy to meet its payment obligations promptly within agreed contract terms and acquisition teams are bound under HM Treasury rules to choose or negotiate payment terms that represent good value.
The Department is making greater use of e-tools to secure better deals and speed up the payment process in pursuit of better value for money.
Departmental Property
Mr. Hoban:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence which organisations have received (a) free and (b) discounted room hire from (i) his Department and (ii) its agencies in each of the last five years; and what the commercial value of the discount was in each case. [221585]
Derek Twigg:
This information is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
Departmental Public Expenditure
Mr. Gerald Howarth:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will break down his Department’s main estimate in (a) near cash and (b) non-cash terms on the same basis as in his answers to the hon. Member for Aldershot on 4 March 2008, Official Report, column 2346W and 5 March 2008, Official Report, column 2284W. [218334]
Mr. Bob Ainsworth:
I will write to the hon. Member and place a copy of my letter in the Library of the House.
Substantive answer from Bob Ainsworth to Gerald Howarth:
I undertook to write to you in answer to your Parliamentary Question on 14 July 2008, Official Report, column 168W, requesting a breakdown of the Department’s main estimate in near cash and non-cash terms on the same basis as previous replies on 4 March 2008, Official Report, column 2346W and 5 March 2008, Official Report, column 2284W.
I attach tables which provide a detailed breakdown of the Department’s Main Estimates for 2008-09.
I am placing a copy of this letter in the Library of the House.
