11 Jul 2000 : Column: 445W
Written Answers to Questions
Tuesday 11 July 2000
DEFENCE
Shipbuilding
Mr. Quentin Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what reviews of British shipbuilding capabilities and capacity he is conducting; and if he will make a statement. [128770]
Dr. Moonie: This is a matter for the Chief Executive of the Defence Procurement Agency. I have asked the Chief Executive to write to the hon. Member.
Letter from Robert Walmsley to Mr. Quentin Davies, dated 11 July 2000:
- I am replying to your question to the Secretary of State for Defence about reviews of British shipbuilding capabilities and capacities. This matter falls within my area of responsibility as Chief of Defence Procurement and Chief Executive of the Defence Procurement Agency.
11 Jul 2000 : Column: 446W
- The Ministry of Defence keeps British shipbuilding capabilities and capacity under regular review, in consultation with other Government Departments, Trade Unions and representatives of the shipbuilding industry.
- UK Shipbuilding yards play a crucial role in supplying warships and major vessels to the Royal Navy and Royal Fleet Auxiliary. As you are no doubt aware, the Strategic Defence Review announced a considerable commitment to the UK Shipbuilding Industry over the next 15-20 years; through major ship programmes, including the Future Aircraft Carrier, the Type 45 Destroyers and the Future Surface Combatant. These programmes provide a secure long-term platform for the UK Shipbuilding Industry to increase its efficiency and effectiveness.
Personal Weapons
Mr. Quentin Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many personal weapons, and of which types, have been procured in each of the past five years; and how many are planned to be procured in the next five years. [128772]
Dr. Moonie: This is a matter for the Chief Executive of the Defence Procurement Agency. I have asked the Chief Executive to write to the hon. Member.
Letter from Robert Walmsley to Mr. Quentin Davies, dated 11 July 2000:
- I am replying to your question to the Secretary of State for Defence about the number and type of personal weapons that have been procured in the past 5 years and how many are planned to be procured in the next five years. This matter falls within my area of responsibility as Chief of Defence Procurement and Chief Executive of the Defence Procurement Agency.
- The following personal weapons have been procured for the Armed services in the last 5 years:--
11 Jul 2000 : Column: 445W
| Weapon type | 1995 | 1996 | 1997 | 1998 | 1999 | 2000 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sub-machine guns | -- | 8 | -- | 2 | -- | 36 |
| Shotguns | -- | -- | -- | 100 | -- | -- |
| Pistols | -- | -- | -- | -- | 491 | -- |
| Specialist rifles | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | 139 |
| New special forces small arm | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | 1,380 |
| Total per year | -- | 8 | -- | 102 | 491 | 1,555 |
11 Jul 2000 : Column: 445W
At present there are only two future purchases planned in the next five years: the Personal Defence Weapon, which will replace the current in-service 9 mm pistol, where we plan to procure up to 15,000 weapons and a small buy of about 20 large calibre Sniper Rifles.
Search Systems
Mr. Keetch: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) what his Department's plans are for the incremental acquisition of new equipment on to the Nimrod MRA4; and if he will make a statement; [128711]
- (2) how the Active Search Sonobuoy System will be capable of discriminating real submarine targets from false acoustic alarms; and if he will make a statement; [128709]
(3) how long the procurement of the Active Search Sonobuoy System will take; and if he will make a statement. [128710]
Dr. Moonie: This is a matter for the Chief Executive of the Defence Procurement Agency. I have asked the Chief Executive to write to the hon. Member.
11 Jul 2000 : Column: 446W
Letter from Robert Walmsley to Mr. Paul Keetch, dated 11 July 2000:
- I am replying to your three questions (Nos 128709-128711) to the Secretary of State for Defence about the Nimrod MRA4 and Active Search Sonobuoy System. This matter falls within my area of responsibility as Chief of Defence Procurement and Chief Executive of the Defence Procurement Agency.
- You asked about the Department's plans for the incremental acquisition of new equipment onto the Nimrod MRA4. As this aircraft is still in development, it is too early for a comprehensive plan of future enhancements to be drawn up. Nevertheless the opportunities offered under the Smart Procurement Initiative, through incremental acquisition, will be actively pursued at the appropriate time. At present, there is one new system which is being progressed with the aim of enhancing the aircraft's capability, that is the SR(SA)903 Active Search Sonobuoy System (ASSS).
- You also asked how ASSS will be capable of discriminating real submarine targets from false acoustic alarms. ASSS will use sophisticated software which will analyse the acoustic signature of the contacts picked up by the sonobuoy. These solution algorithms will be able to discriminate real from false targets.
- Your final question asked how long the procurement of the ASSS will take. Subject to the project being approved next year, the plan will be to deliver an ASSS capability in line with the In-Service Date of the main Nimrod MRA4 programme (March 2005).
11 Jul 2000 : Column: 447W
BNFL (Berkeley Centre)
Mr. David Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what progress has been made on the work for his Department being undertaken at the BNFL magnox facility at Berkeley Centre in Gloucestershire. [130418]
Mr. Spellar: The work undertaken for the Department by BNFL Magnox, Berkeley Centre, has been very successful, but it did not commence until June 1999 and has taken longer than anticipated because of problems developing the experimental apparatus.
11 Jul 2000 : Column: 448W
Further examination of spent fuel is taking place and it is now planned that the site will revert to its fully safeguarded status by 30 September 2000.
RAF Personnel Management Agency
Ms Ryan: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what key targets have been set for the RAF Personnel Management Agency for the Financial Year 2000-01. [130366]
Mr. Spellar: Key Targets set for the RAF Personnel Management Agency for the Financial Year 2000-01 are set out in the table.
11 Jul 2000 : Column: 447W
| Performance indicator | Target (percentage) |
|---|---|
| Key target 1--Peacetime manning The percentage of available trained personnel either filling established posts or on diversions for which there is an approved Manning and Training Margin | 92.75 |
| Key target 2--War, crisis and MOD authorised unestablished commitments The percentage manning level of war, crisis and MOD authorised unestablished tasks | > 98 |
| Key target 3--Career management The percentage of PMA's customers who are either satisfied or not dissatisfied with the service provided by the PMA | 80 |
| Key target 4--Manpower planning Percentage variation between actual trained strength and the authorised trained strength taken as an average over the financial year | No greater than ±1 |
| Key target 5--Finance, efficiency and business practice Containment of operating costs within resources allocated | Cash allocation not exceeded |
11 Jul 2000 : Column: 447W
RAF Training Group Defence Agency
Ms Ryan: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what Key Targets have been set for the RAF Training Group Defence Agency for the financial year 2000-01. [130367]
Mr. Spellar: Key Targets set for the Chief Executive of the Training Group Defence Agency for the Financial Year 2000-01 are set out as follows.
| The number of RAF trainees who graduate | Target |
|---|---|
| KT1a--quantity of output (ab initio flying training) | |
| Fast Jet Pilots | 59 |
| Multi-Engine Pilots | 56 |
| Rotary Wing Pilots | 33 |
| Fast Jet Navigators | 28 |
| Multi-Engine Navigators | 8 |
| Rotary Wing Navigators | 10 |
| Airman Aircrew | 97 |
| KT1b--quantity of output (ab initio ground training) | |
| Officer Initial Specialist Training | 265 |
| RAF Tradesman Training | 2,014 |
| RAF Regiment Induction | 272 |
(1) RN, Army Central Flying School RAF Refresher
(2) Foreign and Commonwealth courses
11 Jul 2000 : Column: 448W
| KT3--quality of output | Target |
|---|---|
| Satisfaction with the quality of graduate trainees as measured by the Agency's customer satisfaction matrix | Satisfactory Rating |
| KT4--cost management | Target |
|---|---|
| Output based management | Deliver restricted Prototype of a Financial Management and Accounting system |
| Next Section | Index | Home Page |