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Departmental Contracts
Mr. Willis: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is the (a) number and (b) value of contracts let by his Department since May 1997 to external consultants and advisers for the management of competitive tendering processes. [109306]
Dr. Moonie: The information requested is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
Integrated Project Teams
Mr. Keetch: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many people from industry are currently (a) leading and (b) are members of integrated project teams; and if he will make a statement. [109694]
Dr. Moonie: The principle of involving industry within Integrated Project Teams has become a reality. Two candidates from industry successfully competed for and are now leading Integrated Project Teams. Industry membership of IPTs takes a variety of forms depending on individual project circumstances and the stage of each project in the acquisition cycle. Industrial membership is growing as new IPTs are progressively established, and industry is already represented as an integral part of many high profile IPTs. A key feature of the standard IPT transition process is the 'industry day', used to initiate closer participation with industry. The level of industry representation in IPTs will be assessed following completion of the current transition phase.
Mr. Keetch: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many integrated project teams cover single projects; and if he will make a statement. [109695]
Dr. Moonie: Of the 135 Integrated Project Teams, 41 are regarded as managing single projects.
Mr. Keetch: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many integrated teams have been created to date; how many it is intended to create; and if he will make a statement. [109698]
Dr. Moonie:
On 14 February 2000, the final 18 Integrated Project Teams will commence their roll out, bringing the total number of IPTs to 135. This constitutes the final phase of the Smart Procurement programme to move to an IPT-based structure. In the future, I anticipate new IPTs will be formed as a result of further restructuring in the Defence Logistics Organisation and through the normal process of project conception.
11 Feb 2000 : Column: 348W
Mr. Keetch:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many procurement projects are to be covered by integrated teams; and if he will make a statement. [109697]
Dr. Moonie:
The intent is that all Defence equipment projects, covering platforms, systems and sub-systems will be managed throughout their lives by Integrated Project Teams. 135 such teams are currently identified to manage a population of over 1,000 individual projects, from those currently in the initial procurement phase, as well as those already in-service.
Mr. Keetch:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many integrated teams cover clusters of more than one project; and if he will make a statement. [109696]
Dr. Moonie:
Of the 135 Integrated Project Teams, 94 have responsibilities for more than one project.
Mr. Keetch:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is the target for cost reduction on the year-by-year defence equipment procurement budget to be achieved as a result of the Smart Procurement Initiative; and if he will make a statement. [109699]
Dr. Moonie:
We are on track to deliver the £2 billion of reductions in spending on defence equipment procurement that we aimed to achieve on the merit of the Smart Procurement Initiative. These savings are not set out as a target for year by year reduction, as expenditure profiles may vary on individual projects, but are assessed as the sum of reductions made in successive planning rounds, for the 10 years from 1998-99 to 2007-08.
Mr. Keetch:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what estimate he has made of the time needed for the Smart Procurement initiative to be understood, and implemented within his Department; and if he will make a statement. [109692]
Dr. Moonie:
The implementation phase of the Smart Procurement Initiative concludes on 1 April 2000, when the main structural changes will be complete. A recent survey across much of the Department and defence industry has shown that the case for Smart Procurement has been made, and that it is understood and accepted. There can be no reversion to the old ways of doing business. We will continue to reinforce the message to sustain the momentum of the initiative as the tangible benefits come to fruition.
11 Feb 2000 : Column: 349W
Mr. Keetch:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what arrangements are in place to ensure that the proprietary information and expertise of competitors in defence procurement projects are protected under the Smart Procurement initiative; and if he will make a statement. [109691]
Dr. Moonie:
In order that the maximum value can be obtained from Smart Procurement, we are looking to industry to be full participants in open discussion with the Department. The maintenance of confidentiality in respect of commercially sensitive and proprietary information has always been fundamental to the defence procurement relationship. The introduction of Smart Procurement has not changed this principle, and we continue to restrict the disclosure of such information, except where a contractor has specifically approved release.
Practical working arrangements are necessary to allow contractors to conduct dialogue within the acquisition teams in a framework which encourages the generation of ideas without disclosing commercially sensitive or proprietary information to competitors. The measures taken to protect such information vary according to circumstances, but can include formal Confidentiality Agreements or limiting the number of individuals having access to sensitive information, drawing from existing codes of practice as appropriate.
Mr. Keetch:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how co-operation with industry after contract signature under Smart Procurement differs from post-signature supplier co-operation under the previous procurement system; and if he will make a statement. [109693]
Dr. Moonie:
Prior to the Smart Procurement Initiative our relationships with suppliers did not always maximise opportunities for joint approaches to problem solving, and arms-length interaction could hamper fully effective communications. One of the key elements of Smart Procurement is an improved relationship with industry, under which we seek to derive maximum benefit from better working practices and shared objectives. We are promoting a culture of greater openness and trust: a "no surprise" culture where co-operation, consultation and the sharing of data will facilitate success. Following contract signature therefore, and in the context of this more open approach, the MOD and industry will remain jointly focused on the delivery of the defence equipment capability to agreed performance parameters, within cost and on time.
There is no conflict between robust contracting and mutually beneficial team working.
Mr. Webb:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he will reply to the letter from the hon. Member for Northavon dated 26 February 1999, acknowledged on 5 March 1999 (Ref. 00964/1999), relating to nursery provision at his Department's establishment at Abbey Wood. [109532]
Dr. Moonie:
I have replied today.
11 Feb 2000 : Column: 350W
Mr. Dalyell:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the letter of 8 February from the Chief Executive of DERA to the hon. Member for Linlithgow, whether records of personnel who worked at Nancekuke in the 1960s and 1970s are held at Llangennech. [109595]
Dr. Moonie:
I refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave on 31 January 2000, Official Report, columns 412-13W.
Mr. Gill:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what recent representations he has received from the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food regarding the sourcing from within the United Kingdom of meat for the armed forces. [R] [109813]
Dr. Moonie:
Over the past two years, officials in my Department have had regular discussions with their counterparts at the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food in order to ensure that all opportunities to source British meat for the Armed Forces at competitive prices are explored. One outcome of these discussions has been that MOD secured access to stocks of British intervention beef, with the result that 100 per cent. of beef for the Armed Forces in the UK is currently of British origin.
Mr. Key:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what was the number of courts-martial for Royal Navy ratings in (a) 1996, (b) 1997, (c) 1998 and (d) 1999. [107868]
Mr. Spellar
[holding answer 1 February 2000]: The information requested is as follows:
1996: 44
1997: 56
1998: 52
1999: 49.
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