Written question asked by Terry Dicks (Conservative), in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Thursday, 28 March 1996. It was answered by Lord Arbuthnot of Edrom (Conservative) on Thursday, 28 March 1996 on behalf of the Ministry of Defence.

Ministry of Defence

Question: Statement about Defence Agency status for the Pricing and Quality Services Organisation. - Includes address for representations and figures.

Answer: Mr. Dicks: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement about defence agency status for the pricing and quality services organisation.[23812] Mr. Arbuthnot: I have decided that the pricing and quality services organisation should be considered as a candidate for defence agency status under the "status steps" initiative. The agency review process provides and opportunity to align more closely the provision of essential services to customer needs. Once complete, it will establish a framework that allows a much sharper focus on the need for those services, together with pressure to improve performance through the development of clear and rigorous targets. Currently, there are four discrete business units within PQs: (a) Support to Contract Pricing; (b) Quality Assurance; (c) Defence Cost Forecasting; and (d) The Equipment Accounting Centre. The directorate has approximately 935 staff located in 41 offices throughout the UK. The headquarters are currently located in central London and scheduled to transfer to Abbey Wood, Bristol, later this year. A "prior options" study is being undertaken to establish whether agency status or other options would be appropriate. I would welcome comments from interested parties. Such comments should be sent to: J. R. Brown AD/PQS/PMIT Ministry of Defence Room 229 St. Georges Court 14 New Oxford Street London WC1A 1EJ

Secondary information