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Ministry of Defence

Answer

Mr. Ernie Ross: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement about the Defence Agency status of Military Survey and the Joint Air Reconnaissance Intelligence Centre. [117834] Mr. Spellar: On 10 May 1999 I announced that the Military Survey and Joint Air Reconnaissance Intelligence Centre (JARIC) Defence Agencies were to be merged into a single combined Agency, Official Report, columns 19-20W. The Defence Geographic and Imagery Intelligence Agency (DGIA) will be launched today. DGIA will be based at four main UK sites: Feltham in West London, Brampton near Huntingdon, Tolworth in Surrey and Hermitage near Newbury. The Headquarters will be Feltham alongside its largest business unit, the Defence Geographic Centre. DGIA will have some 1,700 staff; over half will be civilians and all three Services will be represented. The Agency will act as the Department's centre of excellence for the production of imagery intelligence and geographic information in support of current military operations, defence planning, general intelligence requirements and wider Government interests. The Agency has the following Key Targets for the year 2000-01. Key Target 1 To satisfy operational requirements for imagery intelligence and geographic support within timescales and to standards agreed between the Agency and its customers as follows: (a) For imagery intelligence, providing at least 95 per cent. of requirements overall, while delivering not less than 98 per cent. of Priority 1 tasks. (b) For geographic support, providing 100 per cent. of geographic products and services essential to support current operations, both from the Agency's UK based capabilities and its deployable units. Key Target 2 To achieve the required level of operational readiness in line with Defence Planning Assumptions, while continuing to meet those deployable element outputs required under Key Target 1. Key Target 3 To satisfy strategic and contingency requirements for imagery intelligence and geographic support within timescales and to standards agreed between the Agency and its customers as follows: (a) For imagery intelligence providing at least 85 per cent. of requirements overall, while delivering not less than 92 per cent. of Priority 1 tasks. (b) For geographic support, completing at least 90 per cent of a customer endorsed programme of work for geographic products and services. Key Target 4 To demonstrate a 1 per cent. improvement in the coverage of geographic information holdings and to maintain their quality for Defence use in comparison with the baseline established in 1999. Key Target 5 To achieve a 2.5 per cent. improvement in efficiency. Copies of the DGIA Framework Document and the Agency's first Corporate Plan will be placed in the Library of the House.

Secondary information

Type

Written question

Reference

347 c395-6W; 117834

Session

1999-00

Subjects

Executive agencies Mergers Location Standards Military intelligence Defence Geographic and Imagery Intelligence Agency Joint Air Reconnaissance Intelligence Centre Military Survey

Contains statistics

Yes

Link

View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk