PARLIAMENTARY QUESTIONS FROM PS2 THE LEADING U.K. GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS COMPANY
Contact: ps2@btinternet.com
Written Answers to Questions
Monday 16 December 2002
DEFENCE
Defence Spending (Scotland)
Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how much of the defence budget was spent in Scotland in the most recent year for which figures are available (a) in actual terms and (b) as a percentage of the total defence budget; and if he will make a statement. [86394]
Mr. Ingram: The information is not held in the format requested and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
Departmental Initiatives
Patrick Mercer: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list his Department’s initiatives which are designed to achieve best value for money. [85457]
Mr. Ingram: The Ministry of Defence continuously reviews its business processes and organisation to ensure that military capability is delivered with best value for money for the taxpayer. As part of the 2002 spending review, the MOD agreed the following Public Service Agreement value for money target for 2002-03 to 2005-06:
“Increase value for money by making improvements in the efficiency and effectiveness of the key processes for delivering military capability. Year on year output efficiency gains of 2.5% mil be made each year from 2002-03 to 2005-06.”
A wide range of initiatives is in hand to achieve this target, and to deliver business improvement generally across defence on a continuous basis. Key improvements include the following initiatives:
By 31 March 2006, to reduce by an average of 6 per cent. the per capita cost of training a successful military recruit to the agreed standard.
Achieve 0 per cent. average annual cost growth (or better) against the Major Equipment Procurement Projects, while meeting customer requirements.
By 31 March 2006, to reduce by 20 per cent. (relative to April 2000, 14 per cent. relative to April 2002) the output costs of the Defence Logistics Organisation, while maintaining support to the Front Line.
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By 31 March 2006, to reduce MOD Head Office and other management costs by 13per cent.
By 31 March 2006, to identify for disposal land and buildings with a net book value of over £300 million.
Performance against the targets will be reported annually through the Department Performance Report. Further information on the MOD’s value for money Public Service Agreement target is available on the MOD website www.mod.uk.
Depleted Uranium
Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what plans there are to substitute depleted uranium rounds with safer and equally penetrative rounds; and if he will make a statement. [86388]
Dr. Moonie: There are currently no plans to substitute DU rounds. At present no satisfactory alternative material exists to achieve the level of penetration needed to defeat the most modern battle tanks. DU ammunition therefore currently remains our most operationally effective capability and the use of non-DU ammunition would significantly threaten operational success and would potentially lead to increased United Kingdom casualties. However, I can confirm that research is continuing into more effective alternatives to DU ammunition.
Devonport Dockyard
Mr. Breed: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what major improvements have been made to the facilities for non-Vanguard submarines at Devonport dockyard; and if he will make a statement. [86709]
Mr. Ingram: A contract was placed with Devonport Management Ltd in 1997 to upgrade their existing facilities to provide the sole refitting and refuelling facilities for Vanguard and all other Royal Navy nuclear submarines.
The major improvements made to date to the specific facilities for non-Vanguard submarines, or to facilities shared by both Vanguard and non-Vanguard submarines, are as follows:
Facility
Improvement made
14 and 15 Docks
The construction of seismically qualifie