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To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will place in the Library (a) the Defence Clothing and Textiles Agency Annual Report and Accounts for financial years 1999-2000 and 2000-01, (b) the Joint Air Reconnaissance Intelligence Centre Annual Report and Accounts for financial year 1999-2000 and (c) the...
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will place in the Library (a) the Defence Clothing and Textiles Agency Annual Report and Accounts for financial years 1999-2000 and 2000-01, (b) the Joint Air Reconnaissance Intelligence Centre Annual Report and Accounts for financial year 1999-2000 and (c) the...
Asked by
Bernard Jenkin
(Conservative)
Answered by
Ivor Caplin
(Labour)
Answering body
Ministry of Defence
Type
Written questions
Status
Answered
Tabled on
19 June 2003
For answer on
25 June 2003
Answered on
25 June 2003
Mr. Jenkin: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will place in the Library (a) the Defence Clothing and Textiles Agency
Annual Report and Accounts for financial years 1999-2000 and 2000-01, (b) the Joint Air Reconnaissance Intelligence Centre Annual
Report and Accounts for financial year 1999-2000 and (c) the RAF Signals Engineering Establishment Annual Report and Accounts for
financial year 1997-98. [121493]
Mr. Caplin: The Annual Report and Accounts for the Defence Clothing and Textiles Agency for financial year 1999-2000 are available
in the Library of the House and can be found under classified set 895. No agency Annual Report and Accounts were produced for
financial year 2000-01 as the organisation ceased to be a Defence agency on 1 October 2000.
The Joint Air Reconnaissance Intelligence Centre Annual Report and Accounts for financial year 1999-2000 and the RAF Signals
Engineering Establishment Annual Report and Accounts for financial year 1997-98 are also available in the Library of the House, and
can be found under classified set 943 and 870 respectively.
Subjects
Annual reports; Ministry of Defence; Defence Clothing and Textiles Agency; RAF Signals Engineering Establishment; Defence Clothing Integrated Project Team; Joint Air Reconnaissance Intelligence Centre
Date
25 June 2003
Reference
121493; 407 c875W;407 c879W
House
House of Commons
Type
House of Commons papers
Author
RAF Signals Engineering Establishment
Laid on
26 July 2000
Notes
Received 12.09.00
Subjects
Armed forces; Executive agencies; Air force; Communication; Finance; Engineering; Management; Standards; Defence agencies; RAF Signals Engineering Establishment
Commons Library location
CS 870
Date
26 July 2000
Reference
HC 672 1999/2000
House
House of Commons
Statement on arrangements for the delivery of communication and information services to his Department.
Statement on arrangements for the delivery of communication and information services to his Department.
Asked by
Ben Chapman
(Labour)
Answered by
Lord Spellar
(Labour)
Answering body
Ministry of Defence
Type
Written questions
Status
Answered
Tabled on
12 June 2000
For answer on
13 June 2000
Answered on
13 June 2000
Mr. Ben Chapman: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on arrangements for the delivery of
communication and information services to his Department. [126065]
Mr. Spellar: The Defence Communication Services Agency (DCSA) was established on 1 April 1998 and is responsible for the end-to-end
delivery of communication and information services across Defence. The RAF Signals Engineering Establishment (RAFSEE) was formed in
1982 and became a Defence Agency in November 1994. The DCSA, RAFSEE and a number of non-Agency organisations responsible for aspects
of the delivery of communication and information services and supporting activities were brought together to form a single
Communication and Information Services and Support (CISS) organisation under the Defence Logistics Organisation on 1 April 2000. In
order to strengthen the focus of the overall CISS organisation on service delivery and to reinforce the alignment of the DCSA's
responsibility, authority and accountability it has been decided to remove Agency status from the RAFSEE organisation and to expand
the DCSA to encompass the entire CISS organisation.
The removal of RAFSEE's Agency status and the expansion of the DCSA to encompass the entire CISS organisation are, of themselves,
administrative procedures and will not result in any geographical relocation or redundancies for staff.
Subjects
Ministry of Defence; Telecommunications; Information services; Defence Communication Services Agency; RAF Signals Engineering Establishment
Date
13 June 2000
Reference
126065; 351 c560-1W
House
House of Commons
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will list (a) those targets of the RAF Signals Engineering Establishment for 1998-99 which (i) were and (ii) were not achieved, giving the factors affecting the outcome in each case and (b) action taken by the agency to improve target...
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will list (a) those targets of the RAF Signals Engineering Establishment for 1998-99 which (i) were and (ii) were not achieved, giving the factors affecting the outcome in each case and (b) action taken by the agency to improve target...
Asked by
Lord Campbell of Pittenweem
(Liberal Democrat)
Answered by
Lord Moonie
(Labour)
Answering body
Ministry of Defence
Type
Written questions
Status
Answered
Tabled on
21 February 2000
For answer on
8 March 2000
Answered on
8 March 2000
Mr. Menzies Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list (a) those targets of the RAF Signals Engineering
Establishment for 1998-99 which (i) were and (ii) were not achieved, giving the factors affecting the outcome in each case and (b)
action taken by the agency to improve target achievement performance in 1999-2000; and if he will make a statement. [111752]
Dr. Moonie: This is a matter for the Chief Executive of the Royal Air Force Signals Engineering Establishment. I have asked the
Chief Executive to write to the right hon. and learned Member.
Letter from C. M. Davison to Mr. Menzies Campbell, dated 6 March 2000:
I am replying to your Question to the Secretary of State for Defence in which you ask for details of those targets for the RAF
Signals Engineering Establishment for 1998-99 which were, and were not, achieved, giving the factors affecting the outcome in each
case, and detailing the action taken by the Agency to improve target achievement in 1999-2000. These matters fall within my
responsibility as Chief Executive of the Agency.
The Agency Key Targets and achievement against each one were published in the Annual Report and Accounts for 1998-99 (Publication HC
677 Page 12 refers). Eight of the nine Targets were achieved. The Target not achieved--the attainment of Investors in People
accreditation by 31 December 1998--was revised during the year following a mock assessment in September 1998 which highlighted the
need for further work on the evaluation of training and development taking place within the organisation. The formal assessment was
carried out in March 1999, and the Agency was awarded its accreditation in July 1999, well ahead of the overall MoD deadline.
In the light of revised guidance from the MoD Framework Team, only 4 Key Targets were published for the Agency in 1999-2000, and the
evidence to date indicates that each Target will be achieved.
Achievement against key ministerial targets
_________________________________________________________________________________________________.
Targets, outturns and achievements Targets for
1996-97 1997-98 1998-99 1999-2000
Efficiency
To reduce the cost per task Target Baseline set at Less than 95% Less than 93% Less than 85%{2}
manhour, at full cost, £62.50
compared with the FY
1996-97
figure Outturn --{1} 90.6% 83.65% --
Reduce the core as far as Target Review and reduce Review and reduce Review and reduce {3}--
possible and continue to to minimum to minimum to minimum
refine it against the
operational need Outturn Achieved Achieved Achieved --
Throughput
Maintain core skills needed Target Maintain skills Maintain skills Maintain skills {3}--
to support
likely operations Outturn Achieved Achieved Achieved --
Deliver operational tasks Target 100% 100% 100% 100%
on time
Outturn 100% 100% 100% --
Deliver non-operational Target More than 80% More than 85% More than 90% More than 92%
tasks on time
Outturn 87.3% 87.75% 93.5% --
Quality
To reduce the number of Target Less than 5% Less than 5% Less than 4% Less than 1.5%
quality failures
in completed tasks Outturn 1% 3% 1.4% --
Financial Performance
Develop an improved costing Target No Target No Target Develop costing {3}--
system which will interface system
effectively with the MOD's
overall approach to
Resource
Accounting and Budgeting Outturn {4}-- {4}-- Achieved {3}--
Miscellaneous
Complete an Action Plan to Target No Target No Target Complete Plan {5}--
resolve the Year 2000 IT
problem by 30 September
1998 Outturn {4}-- {4}-- Achieved --
Achieve Investors in People Target No Target No Target Achieve by 31 {5}--
Accreditation by 31 December 1998
December 1998
Outturn {4}-- {4}-- Not achieved{6} --
_________________________________________________________________________________________________.
{1} Previous figures based on cash cost {2} In real terms {3} Not a Key Target for this year following revised guidance {4} Not
applicable {5} Not a Key Target for this year {6} The target was revised during the year following a mock assessment. The assessment
took place in March 1999. We have been informed that a positive recommendation will be made to the assessment panel on 23 July 1999.
Subjects
Standards; RAF Signals Engineering Establishment
Date
8 March 2000
Reference
345 c690-2W;345 c690-1W; 111752
House
House of Commons
Type
House of Commons papers
Author
RAF Signals Engineering Establishment
Laid on
21 July 1999
Notes
Received 30.07.99; Received 30.07.99
Subjects
Armed forces; Executive agencies; Air force; Communication; Finance; Engineering; Management; Standards; Defence agencies; RAF Signals Engineering Establishment
Commons Library location
CS 870
Date
21 July 1999
Reference
HC 677 1998/99
House
House of Commons
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, when the quinquennial review of the Royal Air Force Signals Engineering Establishment will start.
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, when the quinquennial review of the Royal Air Force Signals Engineering Establishment will start.
Asked by
Howard Stoate
(Labour)
Answered by
Doug Henderson
(Labour)
Answering body
Ministry of Defence
Type
Written questions
Status
Answered
Tabled on
11 June 1999
For answer on
14 June 1999
Answered on
14 June 1999
Dr. Stoate: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when the quinquennial review of the Royal Air Force Signals Engineering
Establishment will start. [87143]
Mr. Doug Henderson: The Performance Evaluation phase of Quinquennial Review of the Royal Air Force Signals Engineering Establishment
(RAFSEE) started on 17 May 1999 and is expected to be complete by 30 July 1999. This phase will review the performance of the Agency
since its launch in November 1994. The forward- looking Options Phase will start today and is expected to be complete by 29 October
1999. The Options Phase will consider RAFSEE's role and core functions against the background of the formation of the Defence
Logistics Organisation, of which RAFSEE is now part. This phase will assess whether Agency status remains appropriate for each of
the functions undertaken by RAFSEE or whether there are other more cost effective means of delivering RAFSEE's outputs.
Comments and contributions from those with an interest in RAFSEE and its work would be welcome and should be sent to, Air Commodore
K. J. M. Proctor, RAFSEE Review Team, Room 950, Headquarters Logistics Command, RAF Brampton, Huntingdon, Cambridgeshire, PE18 8QL.
Subjects
Reviews; RAF Signals Engineering Establishment
Date
14 June 1999
Reference
333 c7W; 87143
House
House of Commons
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what key targets have been set for the Royal Air Force Signals Engineering Establishment Agency for the financial year 1999-2000. - Inc figures.
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what key targets have been set for the Royal Air Force Signals Engineering Establishment Agency for the financial year 1999-2000. - Inc figures.
Asked by
Joan Walley
(Labour)
Answered by
Doug Henderson
(Labour)
Answering body
Ministry of Defence
Type
Written questions
Status
Answered
Tabled on
24 May 1999
For answer on
25 May 1999
Answered on
25 May 1999
Ms Walley: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what key targets have been set for the Royal Air Force Signals Engineering
Establishment Agency for the financial year 1999-2000. [85604]
Mr. Doug Henderson: The Royal Air Force Signals Engineering Establishment Agency's key targets for the financial year 1999-2000 are:
Operational Strategy Key Target 1--Deliver 100 per cent. of Operational Tasks to time. Key Target 2--Deliver at least 92 per cent.
of Operational Support Tasks to time.
Performance Strategy Key Target 3--Achieve a quality failure rate for completed tasks of less than 1.5 per cent.
Financial Strategy Key Target 4--Reduce the full cost per task hour to below 85 per cent. of the FY96-97 figure in real terms.
Subjects
Standards; RAF Signals Engineering Establishment
Date
25 May 1999
Reference
85604; 332 c108W
House
House of Commons
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many people are currently employed by the RAF Signals Engineering Establishment; what was the figure at its inception; on what date the RAF Signals Engineering Establishment published its report for 1997-98; and what was the cost of production of the report....
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many people are currently employed by the RAF Signals Engineering Establishment; what was the figure at its inception; on what date the RAF Signals Engineering Establishment published its report for 1997-98; and what was the cost of production of the report....
Asked by
Mike Hancock
(Liberal Democrat)
Answered by
Doug Henderson
(Labour)
Answering body
Ministry of Defence
Type
Written questions
Status
Answered
Tabled on
10 March 1999
For answer on
18 March 1999
Answered on
18 March 1999
Mr. Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many people are currently employed by the RAF Signals Engineering
Establishment; what was the figure at its inception; on what date the RAF Signals Engineering Establishment published its report for
1997-98; and what was the cost of production of the report. [76879]
Mr. Doug Henderson: This is a matter for the Chief Executive of the Royal Air Force Signals Engineering Establishment Defence
Agency. I have asked the Chief Executive to write to the hon. Member. Letter from G. Jones to Mr. Mike Hancock, dated 18 March 1999:
I am replying to your Question to the Secretary of State for Defence in which you asked: how many people are currently employed by
the RAF Signals Engineering Establishment; what the figure was at its inception; on what date the RAF Signals Engineering
Establishment published its report for 1997-98; and what was the cost of production of the report, as these matters fall within my
responsibility as Chief Executive of the Royal Air Force Signals Engineering Establishment Defence Agency.
The Agency currently has an authorised establishment of 977 personnel and the strength, as at 1 March 1999, was 929 made up of 339
RAF, 561 Civil Servants and 29 contractors employed to fill established specialist posts, for which suitably-qualified Civil
Servants cannot be recruited, and for short-term requirements. At the launch of the Agency in November 1994 the authorised
establishment was 1,570 personnel. The majority of the reduction has resulted from the placing of a Multi-Activity Contract with
SERCO Defence Limited for the delivery of provisioning, stockholding, transportation, computer and administration services.
The Agency's Annual Report and Accounts was published on 12 August 1998 at a cost of £5,606 which covered the design and printing.
Subjects
Costs; Annual reports; Staff; RAF Signals Engineering Establishment
Date
18 March 1999
Reference
76879; 327 c808-9W
House
House of Commons
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what key targets have been set for the Royal Air Force Signals Engineering Establishment for 1998-99.
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what key targets have been set for the Royal Air Force Signals Engineering Establishment for 1998-99.
Asked by
Huw Edwards
(Labour)
Answered by
Lord Reid of Cardowan
(Labour)
Answering body
Ministry of Defence
Type
Written questions
Status
Answered
Tabled on
18 May 1998
For answer on
19 May 1998
Answered on
19 May 1998
Mr. Edwards: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what key targets have been set for the Royal Air Force Signals Engineering
Establishment for 1998-99. [42973]
Dr. Reid: The Royal Air Force Signals Engineering Establishment Agency's Key Targets for the Financial Year 1998-99 are:
Operational Strategy
KT 1--Reduce the core as far as possible and continue to refine it against the military need.
KT 2--Maintain 100 per cent. of core skills to support likely operations.
Performance Strategy
KT 3--Deliver 100 per cent. of operational tasks to time.
KT 4--Deliver at least 90 per cent. of non-operational tasks to time.
KT 5--Achieve a quality failure rate for completed tasks of less than 4 per cent.
KT 6--Reduce the full cost per Task Manhour by 7 per cent. on FY 96-97.
Personnel Strategy
KT 7--Achieve Investors in People accreditation by 31 December 1998.
Financial Strategy
KT 8--Develop an improved output costing system by 31 March 1999 which will interface effectively with the MOD's overall approach to
Resource Accounting and Budgeting.
Information Strategy
KT 9--Complete an Actin Plan to resolve the Year 2000 problem by 30 September 1998.
Subjects
Executive agencies; Standards; RAF Signals Engineering Establishment
Date
19 May 1998
Reference
312 c319-20W; 42973
House
House of Commons
(Pursuant to reply at 300 c311-6W) To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, when the Defence Evaluation and Research Agency became operational; what targets have been set for it; what evaluation of it there has been; when he expects further evaluation to take place and similar questions on Queen...
(Pursuant to reply at 300 c311-6W) To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, when the Defence Evaluation and Research Agency became operational; what targets have been set for it; what evaluation of it there has been; when he expects further evaluation to take place and similar questions on Queen...
Asked by
Mike Hancock
(Liberal Democrat)
Answered by
Lord Spellar
(Labour)
Answering body
Ministry of Defence
Type
Written questions
Status
Answered
Tabled on
27 October 1997
For answer on
30 March 1998
Answered on
30 March 1998
Subjects
Executive agencies; Standards; Defence Evaluation and Research Agency; Army Base Repair Organisation; Army Technical Support Agency; Defence Secondary Care Agency; Service Children's Education; Defence agencies; Defence Vetting Agency; Queen Victoria School; RAF Personnel Management Agency; Defence Postal and Courier Services; Defence Bills Agency; Defence Transport and Movements Executive; Army Base Storage and Distribution Agency; Naval Bases and Supply Agency; Army Personnel Centre; Armed Forces Personnel Administration Agency; Army Individual Training Organisation; Defence Intelligence and Security Centre; Defence Clothing and Textiles Agency; Naval Aircraft Repair Organisation; RAF Signals Engineering Establishment; Disposal Sales Agency; Defence Analytical Services Agency; Medical Supplies Agency
Date
30 March 1998
Reference
309 c416-20W; 13656;13333;13336;13652;13658;13378;13334;13337;13651;13515;13659;13331;13376;13650;13654;13375;13167;13165;13338;13330;13168;13649;13653;13335;13661;13377;13163;13339;13655;13340
House
House of Commons
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what are the current security classifications of the newsletters produced for the staff of (a) the Naval Aircraft Repair Organisation, (b) the Defence Vetting Agency and (c) the RAF Signals Engineering Establishment; how often each newsletter is produced; and when each newsletter...
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what are the current security classifications of the newsletters produced for the staff of (a) the Naval Aircraft Repair Organisation, (b) the Defence Vetting Agency and (c) the RAF Signals Engineering Establishment; how often each newsletter is produced; and when each newsletter...
Asked by
Lord Taylor of Goss Moor
(Liberal Democrat)
Answered by
Lord Reid of Cardowan
(Labour)
Answering body
Ministry of Defence
Type
Written questions
Status
Answered
Tabled on
25 February 1998
For answer on
6 March 1998
Answered on
6 March 1998
Mr. Matthew Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what are the current security classifications of the newsletters
produced for the staff of (a) the Naval Aircraft Repair Organisation, (b) the Defence Vetting Agency and (c) the RAF Signals
Engineering Establishment; how often each newsletter is produced; and when each newsletter was first produced. [32187]
Dr. Reid: Where these matters fall to the Chief Executives of my Department's agencies, I have asked the Chief Executives to write
to the hon. Member.
Letter from Mike Wilson to Mr. Matthew Taylor, dated 6 March 1998:
I am replying to your Question to the Secretary of State for Defence Vetting Agency's Newsletter as this falls within my area of
responsibility as Chief Executive.
The Defence Vetting Agency produces an unclassified internal newsletter for its staff called "Vetting News". The newsletter is
produced quarterly. The first issue of Vetting News was published in June 1997; the third issue is in preparation.
You may care to note that the Defence Vetting Agency formed on 1 April 1997, and is faced with a particularly turbulent period
involving collocation, reorganisation and the introduction of new systems and processes. The newsletter is an important means of
helping to ensure that staff are kept aware of what is going on during this time.
I hope this is helpful.
Letter from Grahame Jones to Mr. Matthew Taylor, dated 6 March 1998:
I am replying to your Question to the Secretary of State for Defence about the current security classification of newsletters
produced for the staff of several of his Defence Agencies, as these matters fall within my responsibility as Chief Executive of the
Royal Air Force Signals Engineering Establishment Defence Agency. Specifically, you asked for details of: how often each newsletter
is produced, and when each newsletter was first issued.
The Agency currently produces three newsletters for its staff:
A Personnel Publicity Bulletin, which informs Service men and women of pertinent and topical personnel issues. The news letter has
been in existence for many years, and certainly for the life of the Agency, and is published monthly and whenever there are specific
topics of interest.
A Civilian Personnel Bulletin, which informs Civil Service employees of pertinent and topical personnel issues. Like its Service
equivalent, this newsletter has been in existence for many years, but is published weekly.
"Antenna", a general interest newsletter, which also provides for the staff to express their views on any topic connected with the
Agency's business. This newsletter was launched on 13 February this year, and is published weekly.
All three newsletters are unclassified.
Letter from Mr. S. R. Hill to Mr. Matthew Taylor, dated 6 March 1998:
1. I am replying to your Question to the Secretary of State for Defence that sought the current security classification of the
newsletters produced for the staff of the Naval Aircraft Repair Organisation (NARO) as this falls within may area of responsibility
as Chief Executive.
2. I am able to confirm that the Fleetlands Bulletin and Almondbank Weekly Orders are both unclassified, issued weekly and first
produced more than 20 years ago. Contact magazine is unclassified, is issued quarterly to both sites in the NARO, and was first
produced in January 1998.
Subjects
Publications; Security; Defence agencies; Defence Vetting Agency; Naval Aircraft Repair Organisation; RAF Signals Engineering Establishment
Date
6 March 1998
Reference
32187; 307 c809-10W
House
House of Commons
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what key targets have been set for the Royal Air Force Signals Engineering Establishment for 1997-98.
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what key targets have been set for the Royal Air Force Signals Engineering Establishment for 1997-98.
Asked by
Neil Gerrard
(Labour)
Answered by
Lord Reid of Cardowan
(Labour)
Answering body
Ministry of Defence
Type
Written questions
Status
Answered
Tabled on
5 November 1997
For answer on
6 November 1997
Answered on
6 November 1997
Mr. Gerrard: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what key targets have been set for the Royal Air Force Signals Engineering
Establishment for 1997-98. [15141]
Dr. Reid: The Royal Air Force Signals Engineering Establishment Agency's Key Targets for the financial year 1997-98 are:
Operational strategy
KT 1: Reduce the core as far as possible and continue to refine it against the charging military need.
KT 2: Maintain 100 per cent. of core skills to support likely operations.
Performance strategy
KT 3: Deliver 100 per cent. of operational tasks to time.
KT 4: Develop Customer Supplier Agreements with principal customers and Lodger Units by 31 March 1998.
KT 5: Deliver 85 per cent. of non-operational tasks to time.
KT 6: Reduce the number of quality failures in delivered systems by 5 per cent. on the previous year.
KT 7: Maintain ISO 9000 quality standards.
KT 8: Reduce the Cost per Task Manhour, at Full Cost, by 5 per cent. on the previous year.
Personnel strategy
KT 9: Achieve Investors in People Accreditation by 1 December 1998.
Financial strategy
KT 10: Integrate the Agency's Accounts into Headquarters Logistics Command's Resource Accounting and Budget (RAB) financial system
by 1 April 1998.
Information Technology strategy
KT 11: Complete commissioning of the Future Business System (FBS) initiative by 1 April 1998.
Subjects
Standards; RAF Signals Engineering Establishment
Date
6 November 1997
Reference
15141; 300 c319W
House
House of Commons
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, when the Defence Evaluation and Research Agency became operational; what targets have been set for it; what evaluation of it there has been; when he expects further evaluation to take place and similar questions on Queen Victoria School, Service Childrens Education, Defence...
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, when the Defence Evaluation and Research Agency became operational; what targets have been set for it; what evaluation of it there has been; when he expects further evaluation to take place and similar questions on Queen Victoria School, Service Childrens Education, Defence...
Asked by
Mike Hancock
(Liberal Democrat)
Answered by
Lord Spellar
(Labour)
Answering body
Ministry of Defence
Type
Written questions
Status
Answered
Tabled on
27 October 1997
For answer on
6 November 1997
Answered on
6 November 1997
Subjects
Executive agencies; Standards; Defence Evaluation and Research Agency; Army Base Repair Organisation; Army Technical Support Agency; Defence Secondary Care Agency; Service Children's Education; Defence agencies; Defence Vetting Agency; Queen Victoria School; RAF Personnel Management Agency; Defence Postal and Courier Services; Defence Bills Agency; Defence Transport and Movements Executive; Army Base Storage and Distribution Agency; Naval Bases and Supply Agency; Army Personnel Centre; Armed Forces Personnel Administration Agency; Army Individual Training Organisation; Defence Intelligence and Security Centre; Defence Clothing and Textiles Agency; Naval Aircraft Repair Organisation; RAF Signals Engineering Establishment; Disposal Sales Agency; Defence Analytical Services Agency; Medical Supplies Agency
Date
6 November 1997
Reference
13656;13333;13336;13652;13658;13378;13334;13337;13651;13515;13659;13331;13376;13650;13654;13375;13167;13165;13338;13330;13168;13649;13653;13335;13661;13377;13163;13339;13655;13340; 300 c311-6W
House
House of Commons
If he will list the cost and number of items of equipment and furniture that (a) have been stolen and (b) are otherwise unaccounted for from his Department and its agencies during the past 12 months, listing by name any such items valued at £5,000 or more, and showing information...
If he will list the cost and number of items of equipment and furniture that (a) have been stolen and (b) are otherwise unaccounted for from his Department and its agencies during the past 12 months, listing by name any such items valued at £5,000 or more, and showing information...
Asked by
Ian McCartney
(Labour)
Answered by
Lord Arbuthnot of Edrom
(Conservative)
Answering body
Ministry of Defence
Type
Written questions
Status
Answered
For answer on
27 February 1997
Answered on
27 February 1997
Mr. Ian McCartney: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the cost and number of items of equipment and furniture
that (a) have been stolen and (b) are otherwise unaccounted for from his Department and its agencies during the past 12 months,
listing by name any such items valued at £5,000 or more, and showing information technology material separately. [17073]
Mr. Arbuthnot: A central record is not kept of individual items unaccounted for. All such cases are thoroughly investigated with a
view to establishing the facts and preventing a recurrence. Where a loss has occurred and recovery proves impracticable, the items
in question are written off, and the relevant appropriation account noted accordingly. Items over £100,000 value are reported and
noted individually.
Twenty items of equipment have been reported as stolen in the past 12 months, with an estimated value of £75,300. Two thermal
imagers and related items valued together at £69,589 were the only items valued at more than £5,000.
In addition, 29 items of information technology equipment have been reported as stolen in the past 12 months, with an estimated
value of £31,043. None of these had an individual value of £5,000 or more.
No thefts of furniture have been reported.
This information does not include any losses from defence agencies, I have asked the chief executives with relevant information to
write direct to the hon. Member.
Letter from J. A. Twewby to Mr. Ian McCartney, dated 27 February 1997:
I am replying to your Question to the Secretary of State for Defence about the cost and number of items of equipment and furniture
that have been (a) stolen and (b) are otherwise unaccounted for during the past 12 months insofar as it applies to the Naval Bases
and Supply Agency (NBSA) as this matter falls within my area of responsibility.
The NBSA launched in December 1996 and is formed from a number of different management areas within the MOD. The exact information
you have requested is not readily available due to system changes, but the following information is available for this financial
year: (a) Three items have been stolen with a total value of £7,937.48 (VAT inclusive). None of these were information technology
items. No single item involved was valued in excess of £5,000. (b) Material losses authorised this financial year amount to 907
items with a total value of £2,709,597.09 (VAT inclusive). This figure includes losses caused by damage to equipment. There were no
losses of information technology equipment. Eleven of these cases involved items with an individual item value in excess of £5,000;
these are listed below.
_________________________________________________________________________________________________.
Item description Value £ (VAT inclusive)
Fixed probe assembly 9,839.45
Gyro and card set kit 14,414.90
Rudder servo (quantity 2) 20,201.77
Fan centrifugal (quantity 2) 11,376.35
Filter module 5,254.60
Actuator rotary 9,770.13
Regulator assembly 8,328.40
Lifting/load 7,032.38
Vector voltmeter 5,876.18
Transmitter 10,250.00
Radar platform 6,164.69
_________________________________________________________________________________________________.
Letter from R. H. Kyle to Mr. Ian McCartney, dated 27 February 1997:
Items of equipment and furniture that have either been stolen or otherwise unaccounted for in the Royal Air Force Maintenance Group
Defence Agency
I am replying to your question to the Secretary of State for Defence about items of equipment and furniture that have been stolen,
lost or unaccounted for during the past 12 months because this matter falls within my area of responsibility as Chief Executive of
the Royal Air Force Maintenance Group Defence Agency. A list of all such items with an individual value exceeding £5,000 is given at
Annex A. Actual losses are rare; when compared with the amount of equipment issued (more than 1 million items), the figure of 29
represents only 0.003% of the total number. There have been no losses of information technology equipment.
Annex A: RAF MGDA equipment and furniture losses
_________________________________________________________________________________________________.
Serial number Item Value of the item £ Stolen yes/no
1 Flight compass 1081706 7,925 No
2 Value 118 7884 7,407 No
3 Transformer receiver 10D 9,666 No
9550582
4 Fairing assembly 1560 99 6,462 No
6131360
5 Screwjack assembly 1680 1591069 5,202 No
6 Pole assembly 26LX 6414634 6,487 No
7 Box assembly 26VC 23304 7,166 No
8 Coupling port 36DE 7752541 7,597 No
9 Leading edge 1560 99 6120145 6,221 No
10 Skin panel 26VC 8705542 11,005 No
11 Emruno 22MK2 11A 6345911 14,699 No
12 Nose cone 1560 01 2951228 35,849 No
13 Airbrakes Pt 1560 14 0416316 5,686 No
14 Housing 2915 14 419517 7,782 No
15 Nozzle port 26VN 7775986 6,035 No
16 Rodsighting 26DL 6011375 6,389 No
17 Brake unit 27G 1501909 5,948 No
18 Fan 5UD 4390830 5,695 No
19 Inverter 4F 513039 10,446 No
20 Jack airbrake 1650 99 733 9589 9,392 No
21 Fairing starboard 26VA 6057455 10,680 No
22 Standcocking 12A 9635240 6,130 No
23 Pump 37S 11568 18,495 No
24 Indicator B 110Q 6274221 8,187 No
25 Shaft assembly port 26VA 6,213 No
6049508
26 HPU fuel pump 4320 12 1931468 6,905 No
27 Case 136MG 379347 14,141 No
28 Batteries and transmitter 7,969 Yes
29 Message processor and video 21,900 Under investigation
receiver 1195 01 255823
_________________________________________________________________________________________________.
Letter from W. E. E. Boreham to Mr. Ian McCartney, dated 27 February 1997:
I am replying to your Question to the Secretary of State for Defence about stolen and unaccounted equipment and furniture, as this
falls into my area of responsibility as Chief Constable/Chief Executive of the Ministry of Defence police Agency.
During the last twelve months I have identified the theft of one laptop computer, ten expandable batons, and one pair of handcuffs
complete with pouch. The total value of the stolen equipment was some £2,290,00.
Letter from P. R. Wildman To Mr. Ian McCartney, dated 27 February 1997:
I am replying to your Question to the Secretary of State for Defence about items of equipment and furniture that have been stolen or
otherwise unaccounted for by his Department and its agencies as this matter falls within my area of responsibility as Chief
Executive of Military Survey Defence Agency.
One item of IT equipment has been stolen in the past twelve months with an estimated value of £500. No IT equipment was lost.
A small number of miscellaneous items were lost during the past twelve months. All cases were investigated and where recovery was
impracticable the items were written off. No item was valued at £5,000 or more.
No thefts of furniture have been reported.
This information is exclusive to Military Survey Defence Agency.
Letter from A. J. Stables to Mr. Ian McCartney, dated 27 February 1997:
I am replying to your Question to the Secretary of State for Defence about the cost and number of items of equipment and furniture
that have been stolen or otherwise unaccounted for during the past 12 months, as this matter falls within my area of responsibility
as Chief Executive of the Royal Air Force Training Group Defence Agency.
There have been 30 items of equipment and furniture stolen during the period, for which the total estimated value was £20,048. This
includes a vehicle and its contents valued at £14,851.
Four items of information technology material valued at a total of £993 were unaccounted for, as were 378 other items of equipment
and furniture valued at a total of £13,610. In addition, a number of low cost cutlery items with a total estimated value of £1,032
were also unaccounted for.
Letter from W. H. J. Kelly to Mr. Ian McCartney, dated 27 February 1997:
The Secretary of State for Defence has asked the Chief Executive of the Naval Recruiting and Training Agency (NRTA) to reply to your
Parliamentary Question, about the cost and number of items of equipment and furniture stolen or otherwise unaccounted for during the
past 12 months within the NRTA. I am replying on behalf of the Chief Executive in his absence.
18 items of equipment have been reported as stolen in the past 12 months with an estimated total value of £2,896.84. Two of these
items were furniture and one item was IT equipment. 101 items of equipment with an estimated value of £67,169.83 are unaccounted
for, however, none of these had an individual value of £5,000 or more.
I hope that this is helpful.
Letter from David G. Wadsworth to Mr. Ian McCartney, dated 27 February 1997:
I am replying to your question to the Secretary of State for Defence seeking information about the cost and number of items of
equipment and furniture that (a) have been stolen and (b) are otherwise unaccounted for during the past 12 months, insofar as this
matter falls within my area of responsibility as Chief Executive of Service Children's Schools Agency.
During the past 12 months there have been 3 separate reported incidents of theft of equipment from schools within British Forces
Germany. The stolen equipment comprised of 8 individual items of classroom based Information Technology equipment at a total
estimated value of £5,400 and 3 individual items of classroom based audio visual aids at a total estimated value of £500. These
incidents were investigated by the Royal Military Police; however none of these items have since been recovered.
There has been no unaccounted losses to report against your point (b).
Letter from M. I. Laurie to Mr. Ian McCartney, dated 27 February 1979:
I am replying to your Question to the Secretary of State for Defence concerning lost or stolen equipment as this matter falls within
my area of responsibility as the Chief Executive of the Defence Intelligence and Security Centre.
During the previous 12 months, three items of equipment have been stolen, with a total value of £3670. Two of these items were
laptop computers valued at £1736 each.
Letter from G. Jones to Mr. Ian McCartney, dated 27 February 1997:
I am replying to your Question to the Secretary of State for Defence concerning the cost and numbers of items of equipment and
furniture that have been stolen or otherwise unaccounted for from his Department and agencies during the past 12 months, as these
matters fall within my responsibility as Chief Executive of the Royal Air Force Signals Engineering Establishment Defence Agency.
Specifically, you asked for a listing, by name, of any such items valued at £5000 or more, with information technology material
shown separately.
During the last 12 months, 7 items, with a total value of £2848.10, have been unaccounted for at the Royal Air Force Signals
Engineering Establishment. None of the items were information technology material. Letter from R. V. Babington to Mr. Ian McCartney,
dated 27 February 1997:
I am replying in part to your question to the Secretary of State for Defence about equipment and furniture that has been stolen or
unaccounted for, in relation to my area of responsibility as the Chief Executive of the Ships Support Agency.
In the last twelve months there have been four items of information technology material stolen, at a value of £800. Two items of
information technology material have also been lost or damaged during an attempted theft, at a value of £900.
Letter from John R. Prince to Mr. Ian McCartney, dated 27 February 1997:
I am replying to your question to the Secretary of State for Defence about stolen and unaccounted items of equipment and furniture,
as this matters falls within my area of responsibility as Chief Executive of the Army Technical Support Agency (ATSA).
From a capital asset base of approximately 10,000 lines, we have still to account for 2 items as follows:
_________________________________________________________________________________________________.
Item Value
1 video camera 1,000
1 notebook computer 1,000
_________________________________________________________________________________________________.
These are currently the subject of Ministry of Defence Police investigations. The asset base excludes furniture, which we do not
generally account for as it tends to be of low value.
Letter from P. D. Fulton to Mr. Ian McCartney, dated 27 February 1997:
I am replying to your Question to the Secretary of State for Defence on office equipment and furniture that has been stolen or
otherwise unaccounted for during the last twelve months, for those areas that fall within my responsibility as Chief Executive of
the Army Base Storage and Distribution Agency (ABSDA).
To the best of my knowledge, following enquiries throughout the whole of ABSDA, office equipment to the value of £305 remains
unaccounted for, made up in the main of minor items such as calculators and mains adapters. There is no proof of theft and there
have therefore, been no criminal prosecutions. There have been no instances of information technology material going missing.
As a whole, office equipment in ABSDA, including information technology material, is well documented, highly visible and as a
result, appropriately safeguarded.
I hope this fully answers your query.
Letter from J. R. Drew to Mr. Ian McCartney, dated 27 February 1997:
You asked the Secretary of State for Defence about the cost and number of items of equipment and furniture stolen from, or
unaccounted for by, his department and its agencies over the past 12 months. As this matter falls within my area of responsibility
as Chief Executive of the Army Base Repair Organisation (ABRO), I am replying in respect of this agency.
Thirteen items of IT equipment valued at £14,595 were written off in FY96/97. These were stolen in one incident at one of our
Contract Repair Offices. This included a PC Server which originally cost £9,178. A full investigation by the police failed to shed
any light on the burglary or the perpetrators and gave no prospect of recovery.
There is no consolidated figure yet available for all stores losses in FY 96/97. The total amount written off in FY 95/96 for all
reasons was £24,545 covering 211 individual items. Letter from C. A. Gordon to Mr. Ian McCartney, dated 27 February 1997:
I am replying to your question to the Secretary of State for Defence about losses and thefts of equipment and furniture form this
Agency over the last 12 months, as this matter falls within my area of responsibility as Deputy Chief Executive of the Army
Individual Training Organisation.
Records are maintained of all equipment and furniture stolen, irreparably damaged or unaccounted for, but they do no invariably
distinguish between these losses where the sums involved are small. Within these limits, the information you have requested is shown
below. You may, however, like to note that a large number of the items included in the Damaged or Unaccounted For column are small
items of cutlery etc of little intrinsic value.
_________________________________________________________________________________________________.
Numbers of items: Total Individual items valued at
Stolen Damaged or unaccounted for value over £5000
79 1,960 149,448 (1) Victaulic pipe (£41,049)
(2) 110v power tools (£10,143)
(3) Night vision Goggles
(£13,438 (4) Digital master
unit (£9,151)
_________________________________________________________________________________________________.
Included in the above are three items of IT equipment with a total value of £5243, which have all been stolen.
I hope this is helpful.
Letter from I. G. McIntyre to Mr. Ian McCartney, dated 27 February 1997:
I am replying to your question to the Secretary of State for Defence/Her Majesty's Government about the cost and number of items of
equipment and furniture that have been stolen or are otherwise unaccounted for during the last 12 months, as this matter falls
within my area of responsibility as Chief Executive of the Defence Dental Agency.
Equipment and furniture lost or unaccounted for with the Defence Dental Agency is listed below: (a) Miscellaneous Medical/Dental
Equipment items x 32 = £2561.87 (b) Information Technology Material = £ NIL
I hope this is of help.
Letter from John Chisholm to Mr. Ian McCartney, dated 27 February 1997:
I have been asked to reply, on behalf of the Defence Evaluation and Research Agency (DERA), to your question asking for information
about property stolen or otherwise unaccounted for during the last twelve months.
DERA procedures identify two categories of equipment, items valued at more than £10,000 and items valued at less than £10,000. The
responsibility for maintaining registers, safeguarding equipment and investigating any losses relating to items valued at less than
£10,000 is devolved to a working level. There are more than 600 such registers kept within DERA. Items valued at more than £10,000
are recorded centrally, are routinely checked and any loss or damage investigation is notified centrally.
No items valued at £10,000 or more have been reported centrally as lost, stolen or damaged during the past twelve months. Because of
the devolved nature of the records held on equipment valued at less than £10,000 it has not been possible to collect this
information in the time available.
I am sorry that I cannot be more helpful on this occasion. Letter from Ron Smith to Mr. Ian McCartney, dated 27 February 1997:
I am replying to your Question to the Secretary of State for Defence about the loss of equipment and furniture by Defence Agencies
as this matter, in respect of the Defence Secondary Care Agency (DSCA), falls within my area of responsibility as Chief Executive of
the DSCA.
In the DSCA there were, in the last twelve months, 355 items unaccounted for to a total value of £11,644; of these, it is believed
none were stolen. In addition, there were three items of IT equipment unaccounted for (total value £2,200) and six IT items which we
believe were individually valued at £5K or over.
Letter from W. E. Speadbury to Mr. Ian McCartney, dated 27 February 1997:
In the absence on duty of the Chief Executive, I am replying to your Question to the Secretary of State for Defence concerning the
cost and number of items of equipment and furniture that have been stolen and are otherwise unaccounted for during the past 12
months.
I am pleased to report that during this period no equipment or furniture has been stolen or is otherwise unaccounted for.
Letter from F. A. Bush to Mr. Ian McCartney, dated 27 February 1997:
I am replying to your Question to the Secretary of State for Defence, about stolen and unaccounted for equipment and furniture, as
this matter falls within my area of responsibility as Acting Chief Executive of the Defence Transport and Movements Executive
Agency.
During the last 12 months, we have identified the loss of 97 International Standards Organisation (ISO) containers, which are
missing following operations over the past 4 years in the former Republic of Yugoslavia. Their value is approximately £174K and
within this total there are 7 refrigerated containers, each valued at £5000 or more. Letter from B. E. Nimick to Mr. Ian McCartney,
dated 27 February 1997:
I am replying to your Question to the Secretary of State for Defence about the cost and number of items of equipment and furniture
that have either been stolen or otherwise unaccounted for as this matter falls within my area of responsibility as Chief Executive
of the Medical Supplies Agency.
No such equipment or furniture has been reported stolen or unaccounted for over the past 12 months.
Letter from J. C. R. Hunt to Mr. Ian McCartney, dated 27 February 1997:
I am replying to your Question to the Secretary of State for Defence about the cost and number of items of equipment and furniture
that have been stolen or unaccounted for during the last 12 months, as this falls within my area of responsibility as Chief
Executive of the Meteorological Office.
The type and value of equipment and furniture stolen from the Meteorological Office in the last year is as follows:
Dell Pentium PC and network card valued at £2,000
HP Laserjet 5 printer valued at £3,000
Dell PC valued at £1,500
Laptop stolen from employees' care valued at £2,000.
No other items are unaccounted for.
I hope this gives you the information you need. Letter from Mr. S. R. Hill to Mr. Ian McCartney, dated 27 February 1997:
1. I am replying to your Question to the Secretary of State for Defence about the cost and number of items of equipment and
furniture that (a) have been stolen and (b) are otherwise unaccounted for during the past 12 months, as this matter falls within my
area of repsonsibility as Chief Executive of the Naval Aircraft Repair Organisation (NARO). 2. Four items only have been stolen,
amounting to a total value of £294.23.
Subjects
Costs; Executive agencies; Government departments; Furniture; Equipment; Ministry of Defence Police; Ministry of Defence; Offices; Theft; Defence Evaluation and Research Agency; Army Base Repair Organisation; Army Technical Support Agency; Defence Secondary Care Agency; Met Office; Service Children's Education; Defence Transport and Movements Executive; Naval Recruiting and Training Agency; Army Base Storage and Distribution Agency; Ships Support Agency; Naval Bases and Supply Agency; RAF Training Group; Army Individual Training Organisation; Defence Intelligence and Security Centre; Defence Dental Agency; RAF Maintenance Group; Naval Aircraft Repair Organisation; RAF Signals Engineering Establishment; Duke of York's Royal Military School; Medical Supplies Agency; Military Survey
Date
27 February 1997
Reference
17073; 291 c371-8W
House
House of Commons
If he will list the private employment agencies used by his Department and its agencies in each of the last three years for which figures are available indicating (a) the names of the agencies, (b) the numbers employed by the agencies in work for his Department, (c) the total cost...
If he will list the private employment agencies used by his Department and its agencies in each of the last three years for which figures are available indicating (a) the names of the agencies, (b) the numbers employed by the agencies in work for his Department, (c) the total cost...
Asked by
Mike Hall
(Labour)
Answered by
Lord Arbuthnot of Edrom
(Conservative)
Answering body
Ministry of Defence
Type
Written questions
Status
Answered
For answer on
19 February 1997
Answered on
19 February 1997
Mr. Hall: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the private employment agencies used by his Department and its
agencies in each of the last three years for which figures are available, indicating (a) the names of the agencies, (b) the numbers
employed by the agencies in work for his Department, (c) the total cost to his Department of using employment agencies and the
median cost paid to the agency per person recruited and (d) the average length of contract for persons recruited via such agencies.
[16175]
Mr. Arbuthnot: The information on employment agencies used by MOD is not held centrally and could be provided only at
disproportionate cost. It is my Department's policy to use agencies on the following circumstances: to provide staff as an interim
measure where directly employed labour cannot be provided; to assist recruitment authorities on all or part of the recruitment
selection process, but most recruitment is undertaken in house.
Information, where available, in respect of defence agencies is a matter for the chief executive concerned, who will be writing to
the hon. Member separately.
Letter from C. A. Gordon to Mr. Mike Hall, dated 19 February 1997:
I am replying to your Question to the Secretary of State for Defence about the use of private employment agencies, as this matter
falls within my area of responsibility as the Deputy Chief Executive of the Army Individual Training Organisation.
This Agency came into being on 1 April 1996 and I am therefore quoting figures from that date. Details of this Agency's use of
private employment agencies are listed below:
_________________________________________________________________________________________________.
Agency Number supplied Contract period Cost £ Profession
Office Angels 1 12 months 1,500 Typist
Kellock Ltd. 3 12 months \ Clerical
Corinth Medical 1 12 months | Nurse
50,612
Select Appts 2 12 months / Stores
Reed Staffing 1 Not known 11,000 Nurse
Barkers Personnel 5 Various 3,580.72 Typist
HMR Employment 2 12 months 14,000 Nurse
Fleet Industrial 1 4 weeks 1,358 Chef
Actionline 1 3 months 1,910 Typist
Brook Street \ \
Index Recruitment | 28 weekly | Industrial
24,219
Stirling Rec / /
P and D Employment 7 weekly 7,638 Industrial
P and D Driving 2 3 weeks 1,568 Drivers
Barkers Personnel 2 3 weeks 1,347 Typist
Reed Employment 4 2 weeks 1,375 Clerical
Stirling Rec 1 11 weeks 2,926 Clerical
Stirling Rec 2 28 weeks 15,245 Clerical
Hays Accountancy 3 13 weeks 12,437 Accountants
Involve (BDT) 2 3 months 14,000 Lecturers
BNA 1 6.5 weeks 3,650 Nurse
Crown Nursing 1 29 weeks 14,150 Nurse
ADECCO UK 1 10 weeks 6,800 Safety Officer
ADECCO UK 1 6 weeks 7,800 Technical
ADECCO UK 1 3 weeks 2,900 Lecturer
Reed Employment 1 12 months 7,000 Typist
Reed Employment 1 3 months 5,000 Typist
Bucks and Berks 1 6 months 6,500 Typist
Bucks and Berks 1 5.5 months 5,500 Clerical
Reed Employment 1 12 months 14,000 Clerical
Reed Employment 4 10 weeks 7,542 Typist
Personnel Select 1 2 weeks 561 Typist
Crown Nursing 2 11 weeks 18,505 Nurse
Battleway 1 13 weeks 2,915 Labourer
_________________________________________________________________________________________________.
I hope this information is helpful.
Letter from Mr. S. R. Hill to Mr. Mike Hall, dated 19 February 1997:
1. I am replying to your Question to the Secretary of State for Defence about the use of employment agencies as this matter falls
within my area of responsibility as Chief Executive of the Naval Aircraft Repair Organisation (NARO).
2. Attached is a summary of the statistics for this Agency.
Parliamentary Question no 3243H--Agency Staff
1. Agencies used in the last 3 years are:
Barker Personnel Services
Brook Street
J M Recruitment
Wise Employment
2. Numbers employed by the Agencies in NARO Fleetlands Division:
Barker Personnel Services: 1
Brook Street: 2
J M Recruitment: 6
Wise Employment: 1
3. Costs over the last 3 years are:
_________________________________________________________________________________________________.
Agency 1994-95 1995-96 1996-97 Median cost (total cost
divided by number of
people
£ £ £ £
Barker Personnel Services 13,500 15,500 18,000 15,666
Brook Street nil 3,000 9,000 3,000
J M Recruitment nil nil 12,000 2,000
Wise Employment Nil nil 200 200
_________________________________________________________________________________________________.
4. The average length of contracts is as follows:
Barker Personnel Services: 1 year
Brook Street: 5 months
J M Recruitment: 1 month
Wise Employment: 1 week
Letter from J. R. Drew to Mr. Mike Hall, dated 19 February 1997:
I am replying to your Question to the Secretary of State for Defence asking him to list the private employment agencies used by the
department and its agencies in each of the last three years. For the Army Base Repair Organisation (ABRO) this matter falls within
my responsibilities as Chief Executive.
I have enclosed the details you requested on a separate sheet. It should be noted that the number of staff engaged through
employment agencies was unusually high in 1995-96 and 1996-97 because of the need temporarily to replace vital skills lost during
the rundown of ABRO Old Dalby, which closed at the end of December 1996.
ABRO: Use of employment agencies
_________________________________________________________________________________________________.
a. b. c.
Agencies used{1} Numbers of posts filled Cost{2} £
1994-95
Turner Charles Ltd., Staff UK, British 5 96,955
Nursing Corporation
1995-96
Turner Charles Ltd., Staff UK, British 30 205,514
Nursing Corporation, Kelly Services,
Matchmaker Personnel
1996-97
Turner Charles Ltd., Omega Personnel, Dargue 37 210,117
Staff, Select Appointments, Partners
Employment, Mitrem Employment Service,
Personnel Placements, British Nursing Co-op
Ltd., Kelly Services, Matchmaker Personnel
_________________________________________________________________________________________________.
The average length of contract is 1 year 4 months. {1}The individual fees for companies are not given as they are commercially
confidential. {2} It is not clear what is meant by the median cost paid to the employment agency. The employment agencies are paid
an hourly rate for staff supplied.
Letter from Paul Altobell to Mr. Mike Hall, dated 19 February 1997:
PARLIAMENTARY ENQUIRY NUMBER 3243H
I am replying to your question to the Secretary of State for Defence about dealings with private employment agencies over the past
three years as this matter falls within my area of responsibility as Chief Executive of the Defence Analytical Services Agency.
We make only limited use of contract staff from private employment agencies, usually to deal with surges in our workload.
Unfortunately, our records are not kept in a form which would permit a precise answer to your question without incurring undue
expense. However, I hope the following information will meet your needs:
_________________________________________________________________________________________________.
Agency Total expenditure £
1994-95{1}
Manpower 32,300.64
Josephine Sammons 4,347.93
Total cost for year 36,648.57
1995-96{2}
Manpower 30,630.98
Josephine Sammons 2,533.86
Total cost for year 33,164.84
1996-97{3}
Manpower 13,603.88
JM Recruitment 3,639.34
Total cost for year 17,243.22
_________________________________________________________________________________________________.
{1} Approximately four people were recruited during the year with an estimated median cost per week of £230.
{2} Approximately eight people were recruited during the year with an estimated median cost per week of £230.
{3} Approximately six people were recruited during the year with an estimated median cost per week of £250.
Letter from Julian Hunt to Mr. Mike Hall, dated 19 February 1997:
I am replying to your Question to the Secretary of State for Defence about staff supplied by private employment agencies, as this
falls within my area of responsibility as Chief Executive of the Meteorological Office.
The Meteorological Office use agencies only rarely and the information you requested is given below:
1996
(a) Manpower Josephine Sammons Employment Agency Hays Accountancy Personnel (b) 8 (c) £40,800 median £425 per week (d) 112 weeks
1995
(a) Manpower (b) 2 (c) £9,120 (d) 3 months
1994
Nil
I hope this gives you the information you require.
Letter from Chief Executive, Naval Bases and Supply Agency, to Mr. Mike Hull, dated 18 February 1997:
I am replying as the Chief Executive of the Naval Bases and Supply Agency to your question to the Minister of State for Defence
Procurement about private employment agencies.
The Naval Bases and Supply Agency launched in December 1996 and is formed from a number of management areas within the MOD.
Information such as you have requested was not previously held on a consistent basis, the attached charts give the information which
is available.
Private employment agencies used by NBSA
_________________________________________________________________________________________________.
1994-95 1995-96 1996-97
J. M. Recruitment
Number of staff employed 14 19 21
Total cost to the NBSA £16,176 £81,373 £63,211
Median cost per person £1,155 £4,282 £3,010
Average length of contract 1 month 4 months 3 months
Manpower
Number of staff employed 1 3 1
Total cost to the NBSA £884 £13,200 £7,263
Median cost per person £884 £4,400 £7,263
Average length of contract 3 weeks 4 months 6 months
Brook Street
Number of staff employed 1 nil nil
Total cost to the NBSA £162 nil nil
Median cost per person nil nil nil
Average length of contract 1 week nil nil
SMS
Number of staff employed 95 100 139
Total cost to the NBSA £40,150 £42,485 £68,932
Median cost per person £432 £425 £496
Average length of contract 2 weeks 2 weeks 2 weeks
Crown Nursing Agency
Number of staff employed nil nil 5
Total cost to the NBSA nil nil £7,712
Median cost per person nil nil £1,542
Average length of contract nil nil 3 days
TAV
Number of staff employed nil 3 nil
Total cost to the NBSA nil £12,320 nil
Median cost per person nil £4,106 nil
Average length of contract mil 4 months nil
HMS
Number of staff employed nil 3 nil
Total cost to the NBSA nil £14,960 nil
Median cost per person nil £4,987 nil
Average length of contract nil 4 months nil
Ross Campbell Associates
Number of staff employed 1 1 4
Total cost to the NBSA £2,000 £6,950 £21,250
Median cost per person £2,000 £6,950 £5,312
Average length of contract 8 weeks 30 weeks 16 weeks
Search Recruitment Selection
Number of staff employed nil nil 3
Total cost to the NBSA nil nil £12,800
Median cost per person nil nil £4,254
Average length of contract nil nil 14 weeks
South Hams Nursing
Number of staff employed nil nil 3
Total cost to the NBSA nil nil £10,680
Median cost per person nil nil £3,560
Average length of contract nil nil 3 months
Drake International
Number of staff employed nil nil 15
Total cost to the NBSA nil nil £32,400
Median cost per person nil nil £2,160
Average length of contract nil nil 4 months
AYS
Number of staff employed 45 75 83
Total cost to the NBSA £83,830 £147,790 £289,010
Median cost per person £1,863 £1,970 £3,482
Average length of contract 3 months 4 months 6 months
Alfred Marks
Number of staff employed 92 88 97
Total cost to the NBSA £141,790 £206,300 £319,200
Median cost per person £1,541 £2,344 £3,290
Average length of contract 3 months 4 months 6 months
Saltash Transport
Number of staff employed nil nil 216
Total cost to the NBSA nil nil £16,790
Median cost per person nil nil £77
Average length of contract nil nil 3 days
Ross Campbell Consultants
Number of staff employed Not available 2 3
Total cost to the NBSA Not available £2,900 £1,879
Median cost per person Not available £1,450 £626
Average length of contract Not available 5 weeks 2 weeks
Search Consultants
Number of staff employed Not available 7 3
Total cost to the NBSA Not available £10,997 £6,237
Median cost per person Not available £1,571 £2,079
Average length of contract Not available 2 months 2 months
Fife Nursing Services Ltd.
Number of staff employed Not available 4 7
Total cost to the NBSA Not available £2,303 £3,246
Median cost per person Not available £575 £463
Average length of contract Not available 1 week 1 week
Office Helpline
Number of staff employed nil 5 14
Total cost to the NBSA nil £13,339 £44,410
Median cost per person nil £2,667 £3,172
Average length of contract nil 10 weeks 19 weeks
Workforce
Number of staff employed nil 27 32
Total cost to the NBSA nil £71,398 £79,459
Median cost per person nil £2,644 £2,483
Average length of contract nil 10 weeks 19 weeks
Kellock
Number of staff employed nil nil 1
Total cost to the NBSA nil nil £6,242
Median cost per person nil nil £6,242
Average length of contract nil nil 10 weeks
Reed Staffing
Number of staff employed nil nil 1
Total cost to the NBSA nil nil £16,029
Median cost per person nil nil £16,029
Average length of contract nil nil 20 weeks
Medic International
Number of staff employed nil nil 1
Total cost to the NBSA nil nil £6,900
Median cost per person nil nil £6,900
Average length of contract nil nil 20 weeks
CSOHS Agency
Number of staff employed nil nil 1
Total cost to the NBSA nil nil £21,538
Median cost per person nil nil £21,538
Average length of contract nil nil 23 sessions (medical
practitioner)
_________________________________________________________________________________________________.
Letter from Graham Jones to Mr. Mike Hall, dated 19 February 1997:
I am replying to your Question to the Secretary of State for Defence about the use of private employment agencies, by his Department
and its agencies, in each of the last three years for which figures are available, as these matters fall within my responsibility as
Chief Executive of the Royal Air Force Signals Engineering Establishment Defence Agency. Specifically, you asked for: the names of
the agencies; the numbers employed by the agencies in work for his Department; the total cost to the Department of using employment
agencies; the median cost paid to the agency per person recruited; and the average length of contract for persons recruited via such
agencies.
During the last 3 years the Royal Air Force Signals Engineering Establishment has used 5 private employment agencies--Piper Group
Ltd, RSD Technology Ltd, Turner Charles Ltd, Inter Europe Technical Services Ltd, Escom Technical Services--to provide professional
engineering staff to fill vacancies in the personnel establishment until full-time civil servants are recruited.
In 1994 these agencies supplied 38 personnel on an average contract length of 8 1/2 months. The total cost was £957,486, with a
median cost per agency of:
Piper Group Ltd: £26,274.
RSD Technology Ltd: £25,636.
Turner Charles Ltd: £30,856.
Inter Europe Technical Services Ltd: £7,596.
In 1995 these agencies supplied 52 personnel on an average contract length of 8 3/4 months. The total cost was £1,003,425, with a
median cost per agency of:
Piper Group Ltd: £26,641.
RSD Technology Ltd: £25,996.
Turner Charles Ltd: £11,412.
Inter Europe Technical Services Ltd: £2,809.
Escom Technical Services: £6,364.
In 1996 these agencies supplied 58 personnel on an average contract length of 7.45 months. The total cost was £1,310,206, with a
median cost per agency of:
Piper Group Ltd: £28,781.
RSD Technology Ltd: £29,722.
Turner Charles Ltd: £19,896.
Inter Europe Technical Services Ltd: £11,711.
Escom Technical Services: £24,877.
Letter from Richard Kyle to Mr. Mike Hall, dated 19 February 1997:
Private Employment Agencies used by the Royal Air Force Maintenance Group Defence Agency
I am replying to your question to the Secretary of State for Defence concerning private employment agencies used by his Department's
Agencies because this matter falls within my area of responsibility as Chief Executive of the Royal Air Force Maintenance Group
Defence Agency.
The information readily available is given in the table at Annex A. As a number of the agency staffs are provided through call-off
contract arrangements to cover manpower shortages or peak production periods, the information on median costs and contract periods
for individual staff cannot easily be discerned, and is therefore not provided.
Employment agencies used by the RAF MGDA
_________________________________________________________________________________________________.
Agency name 1994-95 £ 1995-96 £ 1996-97 £ Total cost £ Numbers employed Average length
of contract
(where known)
Michael Page 39,250 70,819 23,521 133,590 2 --
Doyle Clutton 56,055 50,969 0 107,024 4 2 years
Accountancy Personnel 0 0 27,642 27,642 1 2 years
Read Catering 0 0 48,447 48,447 Average 2 --
Paul Mitchell Associates 6,063 8,470 0 14,533 1 5 months
(Leicester)
ACI (Huntington) 0 1,855 0 1,855 1 11 months
BNA (Peterborough) 0 47 1,773 1,820 1 --
Golden Key (Stamford) 0 0 962 962 1 --
Blue Arrow Personnel 0 0 28,154 28,154 1 8 months
Services
Hayes Accountancy 0 54,027 41,572 95,599 3 12 months
Personnel
Wynnwith Eng. Ltd. 0 {1}307,000 1,500 308,500 not available --
ORS Recruitment 0 0 9,000 9,000 1 6 months
MPI Aviation Ltd.{1} 0 0 717,670 717,670 Average 53 18 months
call-off
contract
MPI Aviation Ltd. 0 0 23,520 23,520 4 4 months
Total cost 101,368 493,187 923,761
_________________________________________________________________________________________________.
{1} This relates to the provision of agency manpower to meet fluctuating task levels.
Letter from Peter Foxton to Mr. Mike Hall, dated 19 February 1997:
I am replying to the recent questions you tabled to the Secretary of State for Defence for those matters that fall within my area of
responsibility as Chief Executive of the Army Base Supply and Distribution Agency (ABSDA). You asked about the use being made of
private employment agencies to recruit staff for employment within Defence Agencies, ABSDA has only been in existence since April
1995 and in that time there has only been one occasion where private employment agencies have been requested to recruit staff, and
that was in 1996. The Occupational Health and Safety Bureau was tasked to provide a Grade E Nurse as a temporary measure due to
difficulties in recruiting full time personnel.
Recruitment and Assessment Services (RAS), a government agency, were requested in August 1996 to seek candidates for the position of
Chief Executive of ABSDA on the retirement of the incumbent. Between the selection procedure and my appointment RAS were privatised.
Therefore, you may wish to consider RAS a private employment agency.
The total cost, for both appointments, was £30,289. The length of contract was four months for the Nurse and three years for my
tenure of office.
I trust I have answered your questions satisfactorily.
Letter from D. L. Burden to Mr. Mike Hall, dated 19 February 1997:
I am replying to your question to the Secretary of State for Defence about the use of private employment agencies by the Ministry of
Defence and its Agencies, in so far as it applies to the Army Personnel Centre as this matter falls within my area of responsibility
as Chief Executive of that Agency.
I should explain that the Army Personnel Centre (APC) formed as an agency on 2 December 1996 and received delegated personnel
management responsibility for civilian staff in the APC in Glasgow from 9 December 1996. I can confirm that the APC in Glasgow has
not engaged private employment agency staff.
In addition to the staff employed in the APC at Glasgow I also have residual responsibility for staff at a number of sites in
England currently involved in APC business. For the provision of civilian staff at Directorate of `A' Information Systems (Army),
Worthy Down, the now vacated sties (Earls Court and Stanmore) in London and the closing sites (Ashton-Under-Lyne, Leicester,
Chester, York and Exeter) in England, I was and remain reliant on the respective Civilian Personnel Management Authorities (CPMAs)
responsible for recruitment and management of staff within those areas. I envisage that the individual CPMAs will submit responses
for collation centrally and, to avoid the risk of duplication, the data on private employment agency staff who have been employed to
support the business of the APC at the closing sites would be incorporated into the MOD--collated return.
I hope this is helpful.
Letter from John Prince to Mr. Mike Hall, dated 19 February 1997:
I am replying to your question to the Secretary of State for Defence about the use of private employment agencies, as this matter
falls within my area of responsibility as Chief Executive of the Army Technical Support Agency (ATSA).
ATSA launched in October 1995 and, to date, have used 2 private employment agencies, as follows:
_________________________________________________________________________________________________.
Agency Number of employed Total cost £ Contract length
_________________________________________________________________________________________________.
October 1995 to March 1996
_________________________________________________________________________________________________.
Job Spot 1 2,800 8 weeks
_________________________________________________________________________________________________.
April 1996 to February 1997
_________________________________________________________________________________________________.
Job Spot 1 23,500 44 weeks
List Design Group 1 7,800 20 weeks
_________________________________________________________________________________________________.
Letter from John Chisholm to Mr. Mike Hall, dated 19 February 1997:
Your recent question asked for information about private employment agencies used by the Ministry of Defence and its Agencies
including numbers of staff employed from employment agencies, the cost of staff thus employed and the cost paid to the agency and
contract duration. I am replying on behalf of the Defence Evaluation and Research Agency (DERA).
I am afraid that this information is not held centrally in DERA as all our business sectors are empowered to recruit their own
staff. The information you request could therefore only be collected at disproportionate cost.
All recruitment of permanent staff in DERA is through fair and open competition in accordance with Civil Service procedures. Where
private employment agencies are used it is either to complement other methods of advertising for staff or to meet short term
temporary requirements.
I am sorry I cannot be more helpful on this occasion.
Letter from T. McG. Brown to Mr. Mike Hall, dated 19 February 1997:
I have been asked to reply to your Parliamentary Question to the Secretary of State for Defence, the Rt. Hon Michael Portillo MP,
regarding the use of private employment agencies within the MOD. As Chief Executive of the Defence Postal and Courier Services
Agency (DPCSA) I am responsible for recruitment and employment of staff within my Agency and I am therefore providing the details
you have requested in respect of my Agency.
The four employment agencies shown below have supplied temporary staff to DPCSA during the period from 1st January 1994 to 31st
December 1996. The total number of staff used from each agency during this period, the average length of contract, the cost per hour
(inclusive of VAT) and the type of employee supplied is also shown.
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________.
Number supplied Contract period Cost (£/hour) Employee type
Bond Accountancy 1 3 months 20 Accountant
Hays Accountancy Personnel 1 5 months 25 Accountant
Manpower plc 32 4 days 7-8 Drivers
Josephine Sammons Limited 10 4 months 7-8 Clerical staff
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________.
The overall cost of using these staff is not separately identified. However most of these staff were used during 1996/97 and current
expenditure on temporary staff is approximately £45,000 per year. The overall cost of employing temporary staff is comparable with
the cost of equivalent permanent staff.
The agencies listed above are used to recruit temporary staff on a short term basis while permanent staff are being recruited. All
permanent staff are recruited from other areas of the MOD or directly by DPCSA via press advertisements, which are also sent to
local Job Centres. No permanent staff are recruited from private employment agencies.
I hope this information is helpful.
Letter from Ron Smith to Mr. Mike Hall, dated 19 February 1997:
I am replying to your Question to the Secretary of State for Defence about the use of private employment agencies by Defence
Agencies as this matter, in respect of the Defence Secondary Care Agency (DSCA), falls within my area of responsibility as Chief
Executive of the DSCA.
I regret, that the information requested, is not held in the form requested and could only be obtained at disproportionate cost.
Letter from Alan Bush to Mr. Mike Hall, dated 19 February 1997:
I am replying to your Question to the Secretary of State for Defence, about the use of private employment agencies, as this matter
falls within my area of responsibility as Acting Chief Executive of the Defence Transport and Movements Executive Agency (DTMX).
A private employment agency has been used only once by DTMX in the last 3 years. We employed the Recruitment and Assessment
Services, Basingstoke, at a total cost of £14,822, to engage direct from Industry the Commercial Business Adviser to DTMX. The
individual concerned is employed on a contract of 2 years duration.
Letter from Malcolm Westgate to Mr. Mike Hall, dated 19 February 1997:
I am replying to your Question to the Secretary of State for Defence about the use of private employment agencies. This matter falls
to me as Chief Executive of the Disposal Sales Agency.
My organisation acquired Agency status in October 1994. The information you seek is given below, for the period October 1994 to
December 1996.
1. Names of agencies used, and numbers employed by each agency in each year.
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________.
1994 1995 1996
Josephine Sammons 3 3 4
Manpower Services 1 1 0
Alfred Marks Western Systems 1 1 1
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________.
2. Cost of using employment agencies.
1994: £14,414.67
1995: £47,743.20
1996: £35,278.96
3. The median cost per person recruited was £264.
4. The length of the contracts ranged from 2 weeks to 2 years. The average length was 8 months.
Letter from John Clarke to Mr. Mike Hall, dated 19 February 1997:
You recently asked the Secretary of State for Defence a Parliamentary Question relating to the use by the MOD and its Agencies of
private employment agencies in each of the last 3 years. As this matter falls within my area of responsibility as Chief Executive of
the United Kingdom Hydrographic Office I have been asked to reply to you.
No private employment agencies were used in the years 1994 and 1995. On 1st April 1996 the UK Hydrographic Agency became a Trading
Fund Agency solely reliant for its funding on revenue from the sale of its products and services. It was therefore necessary to
build up very rapidly a more commercial awareness in the Agency and for that reason a number of Interim Managers were employed
through private employment agencies. In addition, one agency supplied a temporary employee to cover for short term absence. Details
of these are:
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________.
Agency name Numbers employed Median cost per person recruited £
Ashton Penney 3 58,044
Barton Interim Management 1 92,277
Parity Solutions 1 12,740
Eurolink Group plc 1 9,800
Western Staff Services 1 472.11
Harrison Willis Ltd. 1 26,892.53
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________.
The total cost to the UK Hydrographic Agency of using employment agencies in 1996 was £316,315.64p. This amount included charges in
respect of salaries paid to the recruits by the agencies but does not include VAT. The average length of contract was 19.4 weeks.
I hope this information has been helpful. Letter from Gordon Wilson to Mr. Mike Hall, dated 19 February 1997:
I am replying to your Question to the Secretary of State for Defence concerning the use of private employment agencies.
The information you require in respect of this Agency is as follows:
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________.
Agency Numbers employed Cost £ Average cost per Average length of
employee contract
1993-94
ACE
Recruitment 1 2,375 2,375 15 weeks
BNA 1 553 553 2 weeks
CMS Employment 1 825 825 6 weeks
Barclays Comm Svcs 1 1,795 1,795 12 weeks
5,548
1994-95
BNA 1 1,314 1,314 5 weeks
CMS Employment 1 1,361 1,361 12 weeks
Byers Exec Svcs 1 288 288 2 weeks
Night Force 1 141 141 2 days
3,104
1995-96
BNA 1 8,295 8,295 22 weeks
Night Force 1 183 183 2 days
8,478
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________.
Letter from Alan Pollard to Mr. Mike Hall, dated 19 February 1997:
I am replying to your Parliamentary Question to the Secretary of State for Defence about use of private employment agencies. As
Chief Executive, this falls within my area of responsibility for the Logistic Information Systems Agency (LISA).
The Agency was formed in November 1994 and assumed full responsibility for personnel recruitment in April 1996. During 1996, the
Agency incurred expenditure of £830.76 + VAT to the Paterson Recruitment Agency of Bicester in recruiting one Administrative
Assistant on a permanent basis. In recent weeks I have authorised expenditure amounting to £33763.62 to the Recruitment & Assessment
Services for the coordination of a campaign to recruit up to 60 Higher Executive Officers and Executive Officers on a permanent
basis. The recruitment process is ongoing with results yet to be promulgated.
Should you require any further information, please do not hesitate to contact me.
Letter from Stephen Campion to Mr. Mike Hall, dated 19 February 1997:
I am replying to your Question to the Secretary of State for Defence about the use of private employment agencies as this matter
falls within the area of responsibility of the Chief Executive of the Medical Supplies Agency, who is currently away from the office
on official duties.
The answers to your questions are that since the Agency was established in March 1996: (a) No permanent staff have been recruited
through private employment services. (b) A total of 4 industrial and 6 non-industrial casual staff have been recruited through one
private agency. (c) The costs of (b) above are £82,586.47 with the median cost paid to the agency being approximately £8,300.
(d) The average casual/temporary contract for these staff is 3 months (industrial) and 6 months (non-industrial).
Letter from Philip Wildman to Mr. Mike Hall, dated 19 February 1997:
I am replying to your Question to the Secretary of State for Defence about private employment agencies used by his Department and
its agencies as this matter falls within my area of responsibility as Chief Executive of Military Survey Agency.
The breakdown of the employment agencies and the costs are below. The median cost paid to each agency per person recruited in
1996-97 is £31,480 with an average length of contract of one year.
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________.
Ser 1994-95 1995-96 1996-97 Numbers 1996-97
1. Reed Staffing Reed Staffing Reed Staffing 3.5
2. {1}MTS \
3. {1}Forward Recruitment {1}Forward Recruitment |
|
50
4. Corporate Services Group Corporate Services Group Corporate Services Group |
|
/
5. Manpower plc Manpower plc 1
6. F I Recruitment 1
7. Alfred Marks
8. Pertemp
9. £623,460 £673,230 £699,596 55.5
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________.
{1} MTS, Forward Recruitment and Corporate Services Group are now one company. Figures include part-time contract staff.
Letter from Walter Boreham to Mr. Mike Hall, dated 19 February 1997:
I am replying to your Question to the Secretary of State for Defence about private employment agencies, as this falls into my area
of responsibility as Chief Constable/Chief Executive of the Ministry of Defence Police Agency.
During the last three financial years I have used Belle Personnel, Key Personnel, Manpower Plc and Josephine Salmons employment
agencies, who provided a total of 8 persons, at a cost of some £51,000.
I do not use the services of employment agencies to recruit permanent staff but rather to provide personnel to fill short term
vacancies.
Letter from John McAnally to Mr. Mike Hall, dated 19 February 1997:
The Secretary of State for Defence has asked me to reply to your Parliamentary Question, about the use of employment agencies in
each of the past three years, in my capacity as Chief Executive of the Naval Recruiting and Training Agency (NRTA).
I am afraid that it is not possible to provide you with the information in the format requested. The NRTA was created from the Flag
Officer Training and Recruiting (FOTR) Command area on 1 April 1995 and, therefore, has not been in existence for three years,
however, the following information has been compiled from the combined FOTR and NRTA use of employment agencies since 1994: (a)
Agencies Used:
South Hams Nursing Agency
Crown Nursing Agency
Personnel Selection
Primary Management
Alfred Marks
AYS Recruitment Agency
Manpower plc
Office Angels (b) Total Number of Personnel Employed: 92 (c) Total Cost: £172,908 (Median Cost Per Person: £407.17) (d) Average
Length of Contract: 1 1/2 months.
You may be interested to note that, wherever possible, a competitive tendering process is used to identify the most cost-effective
employment agency. In cases where there may be an ongoing requirement for agency personnel (e.g., Nurses), the negotiation of a
longer term contract (say, for three years) is likely to result in more competitive prices than would be the case in ad hoc
arrangements.
I hope that this is helpful.
Letter from A. J. Stables to Mr. Mike Hall, dated 19 February 1997:
I am replying to your Question to the Secretary of State for Defence about the use of private employment agencies, as this matter
falls within my area of responsibility as Chief Executive of the Royal Air Force Training Group Defence Agency. The names of the
agencies which have ben used are as follows:
Alfred Marks
Anaesthetists Agency
Angela Shaw Associates
Beaver Employment
Blue Arrow Catering Services
Brook Street Bureau plc
Defcon Security Services
Gibson Oliff Recruitment
Hamlin Nursing Agency
Hayes Accountancy Personnel
Jenrick Ltd.
Pertemps
Toner Graham
Travail
The total number of private agency staff employed over the last 3 years was 109; 29 of them were employed during financial year
1994-95, 32 in 1995-96 and 48 in 1996-97. The costs during these years were approximately £102K, £132.5K and £147.7K respectively; a
total of £382.2K over the period. The median cost paid to the agencies per employee was approximately £3.5K. As far as can be
determined from the information available, the average length of contract per person was just over 7.5 weeks.
I am sending a copy of this letter to my Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief.
Letter from Roger Babington to Mr. Mike Hall, dated 19 February 1997:
I am replying in part to your question to the Secretary of State for Defence about the use of private employment agencies, as this
is related to my area of responsibility as Chief Executive of the Ships Support Agency.
The Ships Support Agency was launched on 11 December 1996 and since that time has used two employment agencies, the details of which
are provided below:
1. (a) Ross Campbell Consultants Limited (b) Two people employed (c) Total cost £3,552, cost per employee £1,776 (d) Average
contract length of employees ten months
2. (a) Alfred Marks (At Your Service) (b) Three people employed (c) Total cost £8,086, cost per employee £2,695 (d) Average contract
length of employees 5.5 months
(The cost per employee is the exact cost to the Department and not the median).
Subjects
Contracts; Costs; Executive agencies; Civil service; Employment; Government departments; Employment agencies; Recruitment; Staff; Ministry of Defence Police; Ministry of Defence; Defence Evaluation and Research Agency; Army Technical Support Agency; Defence Secondary Care Agency; Met Office; UK Hydrographic Office; Defence Postal and Courier Services; Defence Transport and Movements Executive; Naval Recruiting and Training Agency; Army Base Storage and Distribution Agency; Ships Support Agency; Naval Bases and Supply Agency; Army Personnel Centre; RAF Training Group; Army Individual Training Organisation; RAF Maintenance Group; Naval Aircraft Repair Organisation; RAF Signals Engineering Establishment; Logistic Information Systems Agency; Disposal Sales Agency; Defence Analytical Services Agency; Duke of York's Royal Military School; Medical Supplies Agency; Military Survey; Animal Breeding Research Organisation
Date
19 February 1997
Reference
16175; 290 c640-52W
House
House of Commons
How much his Department spent in recruiting staff to his Department and its executive agencies during the 1994-95 and 1995-96 financial years; and how many staff were recruited in each of these years. - Includes text of letters from agencies and figures.
How much his Department spent in recruiting staff to his Department and its executive agencies during the 1994-95 and 1995-96 financial years; and how many staff were recruited in each of these years. - Includes text of letters from agencies and figures.
Asked by
Brian H Donohoe
(Labour)
Answered by
Lord Arbuthnot of Edrom
(Conservative)
Answering body
Ministry of Defence
Type
Written questions
Status
Answered
For answer on
12 June 1996
Answered on
12 June 1996
Mr. Donohoe: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how much his Department spent in recruiting staff to his Department and its
executive agencies during the 1994-95 and 1995-96 financial years; and how many staff were recruited in each of these years.[31397]
Mr. Arbuthnot: This information is not held centrally within my Department or within some of its agencies, and could be provided
only at disproportionate cost. Where this matter falls to chief executives of my Department's agencies and the information is
readily available, I have asked them to write direct to the hon. Member.
Letter from John Chisholm to Mr. Brian Donohoe, dated 11 June 1996:
You recently asked the Secretary of State for Defence for details of numbers of staff recruited, and associated costs, for the years
1994-95 and 1995-96 for his Department and its Agencies. I am replying on behalf of the Defence Evaluation and Research Agency
(DERA).
Recruitment is only one aspect of personnel work and it is not our practice to allocate specific staff and related costs solely to
this activity. Major, and clearly identifiable, costs are those associated with recruitment advertising, promotional and marketing
material and recruitment literature. These identifiable costs are as follows:
1994-95: £0.9 million
1995-96: £1.4 million
The number of staff recruited in each of these years is as follows:
1994-95: 631
1995-96: 1,046
As a result of consolidation within the MOD this Agency became about 50% larger in 1995-96 compared with 1994-95, which is the
principal reason for the increased activity.
I hope this is helpful.
Letter from S. Parnell to Mr. Brian Donohoe, dated 11 June 1996:
1. You recently asked the Secretary of State for Defence two Parliamentary Questions concerning the use of executive search agencies
and recruitment costs within Agencies of the Ministry of Defence. The matters you raise fall within the responsibilities delegated
to the Chief Executive of the Hydrographic Defence Agency, Rear Admiral J. P. Clarke. In the normal course of events Admiral Clarke
would reply to you personally but unfortunately he is at present on official duty overseas so I have been asked to reply to you on
his behalf.
2. As the two questions you asked relate to similar issues I hope you will not object if I reply to them both in this letter.
3. Turning first to your question about recruitment costs (1497H) the information you require, concerning the Hydrographic Office,
can be summarised as follows:
_________________________________________________________________________________________________.
Year Number recruited Cost £
1994-95 15 1,269
1995-96 66 21,681
_________________________________________________________________________________________________.
4. As regards your question about executive search agencies or employment companies, (1498H) I can tell you that the Hydrographic
Office did not use any executive search agency or employment company in filling any vacancies that arose during 1994/95 or 1995/96.
I hope the above information has been helpful.
Letter from J. C. R. Hunt to Mr. Brian Donohoe, dated 11 June 1996:
The Meteorological Office is an Executive Agency of the Ministry of Defence. As Chief Executive I am responding to your question
regarding recruitment.
In the financial year 1994-95 we recruited 42 staff at a cost of £71,036.
In the financial year 1995-96 we recruited 65 staff at the cost of £119,393.
I hope this gives you the information you need.
Letter from Brigadier T. McG. Brown to Mr. Brian Donohoe,. dated 11 June 1996:
I am replying to your Parliamentary Question to the Secretary of State for Defence, the Rt Hon Michael Portillo MP, regarding the
cost of recruiting staff and the number of staff recruited in 1994/95 and 1995/96 within the MoD and its associated agencies.
As Chief Executive, this matter falls within my area of responsibility for the Defence Postal and Courier Services Agency.
During 1994/95 and 1995/96 the Agency employed five staff to manage the personnel function for in excess of 300 civilian staff, and
part of their function is to oversee recruitment. However, other than the £7,600 spent advertising for staff, the cost of the
recruitment component is not separately identified. In 1994/95 and 1995/96 we recruited 55 and 122 staff respectively, excluding
those we assumed responsibility for as a result of MoD reorganisations. We are not responsible for recruiting military staff who are
recruited by the Army's centralised recruitment function.
I hope this information is helpful.
Letter from W. E. Spreadbury to Mr. Brian Donohoe, dated 11 June 1996:
I am replying to your Question to the Secretary of State for Defence (about recruitment of staff) on behalf of the Chief Executive
of the Duke of York's Royal Military School who is absent on duty as this matter falls within his area of responsibility.
During the financial years 1994-95 and 1995-96 my Agency spent £1775 and £1847 respectively on recruiting staff. The numbers of
staff recruited in these two years were 7 and 13 respectively.
Letter from Brigadier K. J. W. Good to Mr. Brian Donohoe, dated 11 June 1996:
I am replying to your Question to the Secretary of State for Defence regarding how much my agency has spent in recruiting staff
during the 1994/95 and 1995/96 financial years; and how many staff were recruited in each of these years.
My response, therefore, is as follows:
Total spend on recruitment 1994/95: £86,775
Total spend on recruitment 1995/96: £89,625
Total number of staff recruited 1994/95: 358
Total number of staff recruited 1995/96: 427
I trust this fully answers your question.
Letter from I. S. Mitchelson to Mr. Brian Donohoe, dated 11 June 1996:
I am replying to your question to the Secretary of State for Defence relating to recruitment within this Agency during 1994/95 and
1995/96, as this matter falls within my area of responsibility as Chief Executive of Service Children's Education, (SCE).
Almost all Service Children's Education staff are recruited in the UK for service overseas or recruited locally in overseas
locations. During the 1994/95 Financial Year SCE's predecessor Agency, Service Children's Schools (North West Europe), recruited 353
locally entered staff. Advertising for these types of staff was through existing service sources at negligible additional associated
cost, which was not separately recorded. No associated travel and subsistence costs, nor fees for interview board members was
incurred. The Agency only assumed responsibility for recruitment of locally entered staff in July 1994 and figures are not available
prior to this. Additionally during 1994/95 10 UK Based staff were recruited at a cost of £20,770, inclusive of advertising costs,
board members fees and candidates travel and subsistence costs.
In the 1995/96 Financial Year, the Agency recruited 1,044 locally entered staff, almost all part-time. Twenty-two UK Based staff
were recruited during the same period at a cost of £44,874. In addition to the costs at 1994/95, this figure includes the hiring of
regional venues for the interviews.
Letter from Paul A. Altobell to Mr. Brian Donohoe, dated 11 June 1996:
I am replying to your question to the Secretary of State for Defence about expenditure on recruiting staff as this matter falls
within my area of responsibility as Chief Executive of the Defence Analytical Services Agency.
DASA has spent the following on the recruitment of staff:
1994/95: £0
1995/96: £2,752.35
In addition to those staff recruited for us by our parent Department (MoD) my Agency has directly recruited the following:
Number of staff
1994/95: 0
1995/96: 11 Letter from Colonel A. H. Roache to Mr. Brian Donohoe, dated 11 June 1996:
As Chief Executive of the Defence Animal Centre (DAC) I am replying to your Question to the Secretary of State for Defence regarding
how much the DAC spent in recruiting staff during the 1994-95 and 1995-96 financial years and how many staff were recruited in each
of these years.
Staff are recruited through the mediums of the Area Civilian Staff Manager and the Job Centre and the use of these organisations is
at no cost to the DAC.
During the financial year 1994-95, 10 staff were recruited and 36 were recruited during 1995-96.
Letter from Air Commodore P. C. Ayee to Mr. Brian Donohoe, dated 11 June:
I am replying to your question to the Secretary of State for Defence, asking how much his Department spent in recruiting staff to
his Department and its executive agencies during the 1994-95 and 1995-95 financial years; and how many staff were recruited in each
of these years as this matter falls within my responsibility as Chief Executive of the Royal Air Force Signals Engineering
Establishment.
From its launch as an executive agency on 22 Nov 94 until the end of financial year 1994-95 my agency recruited 45 staff through the
Department at no direct cost to the Agency. In financial year 1995-96 we recruited 51 staff at a direct cost of £2,652.
Letter from Captain W. S. Graham to Mr. Brian Donohoe, dated 11 June 1996:
1. I am replying to your Question to the Secretary of State for Defence, that asked how much was spent in the `Naval Aircraft
Repair Organisation (NARO)' in recruiting staff during 1994-95 and 1995-96 financial years, and how many staff were recruited in
each of these years, as the matter falls within my area of responsibility as Chief Executive of the NARO.
2. The figures are as follows:
94/96: 63 £19,112
95/96: 80 £20,606
Letter from W. E. E. Boreham to Mr. Brian Donohoe, dated 11 June 1996:
I am replying to your Question to the Secretary of State for Defence about recruitment, as this falls into my area of responsibility
as Chief Constables/Chief Executive of the Ministry of Defence Police Agency.
I recruited 32 police officers and no civilians in 1994-95, and no police officers but 12 civilian staff, for employment at MDP
Wethersfield, in 1995-96. I spent £6,192 on police recruitment advertising during financial year 1994-95 and £10,040 in 1995-96.
Recruitment is conducted in-house by my Personnel Department as part of its wider duties, and the staff costs associated with
recruitment are not separately identified.
Letters from N. J. Pearson to Mr. Brian Donohoe, dated 11 June 1996:
I am replying to your Question to the Secretary of State for Defence about the cost of recruiting staff and the number of staff
recruited as this matters falls within my area of responsibility as Chief Executive of the Joint Air Reconnaissance Intelligence
Centre (JARIC) Defence Agency. The Agency, which formed on 19 April 1996, continues to use the Department's centralized resources
for its Service and civilian recruitment needs. Information on staff recruitment costs could only be provided at disproportionate
costs. Since personnel are recruited to meet central requirements and not exclusively to fill JARIC's needs. The numbers of civilian
staff externally recruited to meet JARIC's vacancies for financial years 1994-95 and 1995-96 were 14 and 16 respectively. Letter
from Brigadier J. R. Drew to Mr. Brian Donohoe, dated 11 June 1996:
I am replying to your Question to the Secretary of State for Defence about how much was spent by Defence Agencies on recruitment in
1994/95 and 1995/96 and how many staff were recruited, as this matter falls within my area of responsibility as Chief Executive of
the Army Base Repair Organisation (ABRO).
It is not possible to provide information about the full cost to ABRO of recruitment in these years as the systems are not yet
available to provide this without disproportionate cost and effort. I can however advise that the number of staff recruited and the
amount spent on recruitment advertising for the most recent full financial years was:
_________________________________________________________________________________________________.
1994-95 1995-96
Number of staff 243 533
Cost of advertising £7,618 £30,027
_________________________________________________________________________________________________.
I hope that this is helpful.
Letter from Brian Raine to Mr. Brian Donohoe, dated 11 June 1996:
I am replying to your Question to the Secretary of State for Defence, on how much his Department spent in recruiting staff to his
Department and its executive agencies during the 1994-95 and 1995-96 financial year; and how many staff were recruited in each of
these years.
Cost of Advertising
1994/95: £9,843.13
1995/96: £9,385.53
Numbers recruited
1994/95: 8
1995/96: 5
If you have any further questions about this reply please do not hesitate to contact me.
Subjects
Executive agencies; Civil servants; Civil service; Expenditure; Government departments; Recruitment; Staff; Ministry of Defence Police; Ministry of Defence; Defence Evaluation and Research Agency; Army Base Repair Organisation; Met Office; Service Children's Education; UK Hydrographic Office; Queen Victoria School; Defence Postal and Courier Services; Army Base Storage and Distribution Agency; Naval Aircraft Repair Organisation; Defence Animal Centre; RAF Signals Engineering Establishment; Defence Analytical Services Agency; Duke of York's Royal Military School; Joint Air Reconnaissance Intelligence Centre
Date
12 June 1996
Reference
31397; 279 c210-4W;279 c205-9W
House
House of Commons
If he will list for each of his Department's agencies, what market testing has been carried out into the services they provide and what were the results. - Including text of letters from Chief Executives of 30 agencies and figures. - Part 1 of 2.
If he will list for each of his Department's agencies, what market testing has been carried out into the services they provide and what were the results. - Including text of letters from Chief Executives of 30 agencies and figures. - Part 1 of 2.
Asked by
Martin Redmond
(Labour)
Answered by
Lord Arbuthnot of Edrom
(Conservative)
Answering body
Ministry of Defence
Type
Written questions
Status
Answered
For answer on
4 June 1996
Answered on
4 June 1996
Mr. Redmond: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list for each of his Department's agencies what market testing has
been carried out into the services they provide and what were the results.[30115]
Mr. Arbuthnot: These matters fall to the chief executives of my Department's agencies and I have asked the chief executives to write
to the hon. Member.
Letter from J. R. Drew to Mr. Martin Redmond, dated 4 June 1996:
I am replying to your Question to the Secretary of State for Defence about market testing in Defence Agencies. As Chief Executive of
one such agency (the Army Base Repair Organisation (ABRO), I am replying with respect to the market testing we have been conducting.
Since the launch of ABRO on 1 April 1993 the Agency has completed one market test. This competition covered the complete range of
services provided by one its major business units--ABRO Bovington (covering re-manufacture of armoured fighting vehicles, including
the Challenger Main Battle Tank, and also equipment repair support to the Royal Armoured Corps Centre and other local affiliated
military units). The market test was won by the in-house team and a Service Level Agreement has been in place since July 1994.
The Agency is currently engaged on the market test of the equipment repair support service that it provides to Army Land Command.
Recommendations on the results of this competition are due to be made to Ministers by 31 January 1997. ABRO will then have market
tested activities amounting to 65% of its running costs.
The final phase of the Agency's current Competing for Quality programme will be to evaluate and implement the strategy for ABRO
Donnington. This can only begin once we have the full set of experiences from the market test currently in train. I have enclosed a
copy of our Corporate Plan which will give you a fuller picture of our activities. Letter from K. J. W. Goad to Mr. Martin Redmond,
dated 4 June 1996:
I reply to your Question to the Secretary of State for Defence regarding Market Testing activity by this Agency.
As Chief Executive I submit a nil return on behalf of the Army Base Storage and Distribution Agency (ABSDA).
Letter from C. L. Elliott to Mr. Martin Redmond, dated 4 June 1996:
I am replying to your Question to the Secretary of State for Defence about market testing in Agencies as this matter falls within my
area of responsibility as Chief Executive of the Army Individual Training Organisation (AITO).
No market tests have been completed to date. However, the AITO is in the early stages of carrying out market testing at 6 of our
training establishments.
The outcome of this programme of tests will not be known for at least 18 months, and therefore I am unable to report any results at
this stage.
Please let me know if I can be of any further assistance.
Letter from J. R. Prince to Mr. Martin Redmond, dated 4 June 1996:
I am replying to your question to the Secretary of State for Defence about market testing into services provided by this agency, as
this matter falls within my area of responsibility as Chief Executive of the Army Technical Support Agency (ATSA).
ATSA launched in October 1995 and, to date, no market testing has been carried out.
Letter from A. H. Roache to Mr. Martin Redmond, dated 4 June 1996:
As Chief Executive of the Defence Animal Centre (DAC) I am replying to your Question to the Secretary of State for Defence regarding
what Market Testing has been carried out into the services provided by the DAC, and what were the results.
An independent study into Competing for Quality by Shreeveport Limited concluded that Market Testing was not viable for the DAC and
therefore the matter was taken no further.
Letter from Paul Altobell to Mr. Martin Redmond, dated 4 June 1996:
I am replying to your question to the Secretary of State for Defence about market testing as this matter falls within my area of
responsibility as Chief Executive of the Defence Analytical Services Agency (DASA).
A market testing review of the Agency was carried out shortly after its launch in July 1992. The study team concluded that the
Agency as a whole should remain in the public sector. A reappraisal in February 1995 also considered that the bulk of the work of
the Agency should be retained in-house though there was some opportunity for contracting out.
Competing for Quality figures for the period between April 1995 and March 1996 are being compiled for the Agency's Efficiency Plan.
It is anticipated that this information will be published in the 1996 Next Steps Review.
Letter from T. R. Thurgate to Mr. Martin Redmond, dated 4 June 1996:
I am replying to your Question to the Secretary of State for Defence about market testing of the Defence Bills Agency as this matter
falls within my area of responsibility as Chief Executive.
There are no plans to market test the work of the DBA. The task of the DBA was formerly carried out by the now disbanded Defence
Accounts Agency. Under market testing rules, an in-house bid which represented substantial savings was submitted. Ministers accepted
the bid and the DBA was formed. Letter from R. N. Dixon to Mr. Martin Redmond, dated 4 June 1996:
I am replying to your Question to the Secretary of State for Defence about market testing in the Defence Clothing and Textiles
Agency (DCTA) as this matter falls within my area of responsibility as Chief Executive of the Agency.
As part of the procedure which resulted in the formation of the DCTA on 22 November 1994, full consideration was given to the "prior
options". This included an exhaustive examination of whether the services of the Agency could be better provided through
contractorisation or privatisation, in whole or in part. The conclusion then was that they could not. There has been no market
testing of the services provided by the Agency in the period since it formation.
It should be noted, however, that a very substantial proportion of DCTA expenditure is already being placed externally through the
normal competitive process. Cash expenditure by DCTA in 1995/96 totalled £137M of which £124M (90%) represented money spent on the
purchase of clothing, textiles and general stores, as well as externally-sourced R&D effort and support services. Contracts for
these goods and services were placed in full compliance with government requirements for open competition between suppliers.
Letter from C. Roberts to Mr. Martin Redmond, dated 4 June 1996:
Your question to the Secretary of State for Defence about Market Testing falls within the responsibilities of the Chief Executive of
the Defence Dental Agency. I am responding on the Chief Executive's behalf during his absence on duty.
The Defence Dental Agency was formed on 1 March 1996. This was in line with the recommendation of Defence Cost Study 15 that the
three single Service dental branches should be brought together into a single tri-Service Directorate and considered for Agency
status. Prior to the launch of the Agency a Competing for Quality feasibility study was completed by outside consultants. The Study
concluded that neither market testing, privatisation nor contractorization of Defence primary dental services were feasible options,
but made a number of recommendations on efficiency which are now being implemented.
I hope that this is of help.
Letter from John Chisholm to Mr. Martin Redmond, dated 4 June 1996:
Your recent question to Secretary of State for Defence asked for details on market testing carried out in his Department's agencies.
I am replying on behalf of the Defence Evaluation and Research Agency (DERA).
I should begin by explaining that DERA was only formed on 1 April 1995 when the Defence Research Agency (DRA) joined with other
Ministry of Defence research and evaluation organisations to form a single science and technology Agency. The figures for Market
Testing initiatives, which I set out below, however refer mainly to the period from April 1991 when the DRA was a separate Agency.
They are:
_________________________________________________________________________________________________.
Area Financial year Value of service reviewed Outcomes
(£ million)
a. DRA Experimental Flying 1992-93 26.2 Contract award to in-house MOD
team based at Boscombe Down.
b. DRA Site Services 1993-94 45.0 90.0 Market Test c. DRA 1994-95 47.0 Market Test
1994-95 suspended in Engineering
suspended.
May 1994 when Services Savings
competition achieved by
at early combination
sites in of prior
programme options
revealed that review of
equivalent requirement
savings could and
be obtained rationalisati
organisationa on.
lly by
restructuring
requirements.
d. DRA Financial Accounting 1994-95 3.1 Award made to in-house team
after competition.
e. IS Data Telecoms 1994-95 1.0 Overtaken by rationalisation
measures.
_________________________________________________________________________________________________.
Market Testing is only one part of a wider Competing for Quality Programme pursued by this Agency. For the period between April 1995
and March 1996 this programme has been incorporated into the DERA's Corporate Planning process. This has resulted in the proposal,
currently under consideration, for the privatisation of the support services elements of DERA as announced by the Minister of State
for Defence Procurement on 27 March 1996. It is anticipated that information on this efficiency programme will be published in the
1996 Next Steps Review.
I hope this is helpful.
Letter from T. McG Brown to Mr. Martin Redmond, dated 4 June 1996:
I am replying to your question to the Secretary of State for Defence about market testing as this matter falls within my area of
responsibility as Chief Executive of the Defence Postal and Courier Services Agency.
Three Agency functions have been market tested so far. The Mill Hill catering and stewardship functions where the contract was
awarded to Gardner Merchant Ltd. The mall sorting functions at St Giles Court and Mill Hill together with the MOD Van Service were
subsumed into our Mail 2000 Initiative, part of the Defence Cost Studies programme, and hence remained in house.
I hope this is helpful, please let me know if you require any further information.
Letter from J. C. R. Hunt to Mr. Martin Redmond, dated 4 June 1996:
I am replying to your question to the Secretary of State for Defence about market testing of services provided as this matter falls
within my area of responsibility as Chief Executive of the Meteorological Office.
Contractorisation of Meteorological Office work has historically run at a high level. The attached table gives the details, in terms
of staff costs, of what further gains we have so far achieved as a consequence of the Government's market testing initiative.
Work continues to examine the scope for market testing in a number of other areas of the Office.
I hope you find this information useful.
_________________________________________________________________________________________________.
Activity Number of staff (before Annual value (£000) (staff Efficiencies made (Percentage)
efficiencies) costs)
Library and Archives 17 230 25
Corporate Communications 25 510 11
Personnel Administration Services 19 240 22
It Operations Centre 22 598 32
Supply and Services 61 851 22
_________________________________________________________________________________________________.
Letter from R. G. Smith to Mr. Martin Redmond, dated 4 June 1996:
I am replying to your Question to the Secretary of State for Defence about market testing by Agencies as this matter, in respect of
my Agency, falls within my area of responsibility as Chief Executive of the Defence Secondary Care Agency (DSCA).
The DSCA was only launched on 30 April 1996; I have not yet implemented any market testing programmes. However, we are undertaking
scoping work in order to identify areas suitable for market testing in the future. In this respect, I regard support services as
being particularly suitable for this sort of exercise. I therefore intend, if the possibility exists, to subject all support
services to some form of competition including market testing where appropriate.
I hope this information is helpful.
Letter from M. G. R. Hodson to Mr. Martin Redmond, dated 4 June 1996:
I am replying to your Question to the Secretary of State for Defence, about market testing, as this matter falls within my area of
responsibility as Chief Executive of the Defence Transport and Movements Executive Agency.
The only market test taking place in this agency is that of the MOD Freight Distribution Service. The Feasibility Study commenced in
October 1994 and, following Trades Unions consultation, an Invitation to Tender was issued on 26 January 1996 to 4 commercial
tenderers and a tri-Service in-house bid team. Tenders were due in by 30 May 1996. Results are currently planned to be announced in
November 1996. Once this particular market test is completed, over 90% of DTMX business will have been market tested.
Letter from Keith Ellender to Mr. Martin Redmond, dated 4 June 1996:
I am replying to your Question to the Secretary of State for Defence about market testing in my agency as this matter falls within
my area of responsibility as Chief Executive of the Disposal Sales Agency.
No market testing was carried out within the Disposal Sales Agency between October 1994, when we achieved agency status, and March
1995.
CFQ figures for the period between April 1995 and March 1996 are being compiled for my agency's Efficiency Plan. It is anticipated
that this information will be published in the 1996 Next Steps Review.
Letter from G. H. Wilson to Mr. Martin Redmond, dated 4 June 1996:
I am replying to your Question to the Secretary of State for Defence about market testing as this matter falls within my area of
responsibility of Chief Executive of the Duke of York's Royal Military School.
No market testing was carried out prior to March 1995 into the services we provide.
CFQ figures for the period between April 1995 and March 1996 are being compiled for our Agency's Efficiency Plan. It is anticipated
that the information will be published in the 1996 Next Steps Review.
Letter from J. P. Clarke to Mr. Martin Redmond, dated 4 June 1996:
You recently asked the Secretary of State for Defence a Parliamentary Question concerning the extent to which market testing had
been carried out within Agencies of the Ministry of Defence. As the Chief Executive of the Hydrographic Office Defence Agency, the
issue raised falls within my area of responsibility and I have been asked to reply to you.
The simple answer to your question is that no market testing has been carried out into the services provided by the Hydrographic
Office. Given the paucity of this response it might be of some benefit if I were to expand a little on this statement.
The Hydrographic Office, during 1993 and 1994 conducted a number of internal studies into various activities to ascertain if market
testing represented a feasible and realistic method of achieving value for money. In the event, the Hydrographic Office Board
concluded that a formal Market Testing programme would not be conducted as it was not, for various reasons, considered to be an
appropriate option. However, the various feasibility studies highlighted a number of areas and activities where it was felt further
efficiency savings could be made. In light of this a formal Efficiency Programme was instigated with the aim of realising savings,
commensurate with those which could have been expected from market testing. This programme was successful with savings targets being
met in both financial years 1994/95 and 1995/96.
I hope the above information has been helpful.
Letter from N. J. Pearson to Mr. Martin Redmond, dated 4 June 1996:
I am replying to your Question to the Secretary of State for Defence about market testing as this matter falls within my area of
responsibility as Chief Executive of the Joint Air Reconnaissance Intelligence Centre Defence Agency. The Agency, which is only 2
months old, has not carried a market test of any of the services which it provides.
Letter from A. W. Pollard to Mr. Martin Redmond, dated 4 June 1996:
I am replying to your Parliamentary Question to the Secretary of State for Defence about what market testing has been carried out
into the services that Agencies provide. As Chief Executive, this falls within my area of responsibility for the Logistic
Information Systems Agency (LISA).
Although LISA was included in the Market Testing programme prior to its launch as an Agency in November 1994, the activity to be
tested was subsumed by the Agency's CFQ Partnership initiative. This culminated in the award of a contract in December 1995 to EDS.
Under the terms of this contract, all LISA non-core activity is being transferred to the Private Sector partner who will continue to
provide these services on site under GOCO arrangements. The bulk of the transfer took place on 1 March 1996 with the remainder to
follow by April 1997. It is anticipated that final CFQ figures for the year ending March 1996 will be published in this year's Next
Steps Review.
If you require any further information, please do not hesitate to contact me.
Letter from B. E. Nimick to Mr. Martin Redmond, dated 4 June 1996:
I am replying to your Question to the Secretary of State for Defence about Market testing, as this matter falls within my area of
responsibility as Chief Executive of the Medical Supplies Agency.
The Medical Supplies Agency was established "to ensure the cost effective and timely provision of medical, dental and veterinary
material, blood and blood products, technical and logistic support and trained personnel to the UK Armed Forces worldwide". It was
initially proposed that the provision of these services be subject to a market test. However, Defence Cost Study 15 recommended that
this should be cancelled and that the wider system covering medical supply, provisioning points and other medical stores should
undergo agency review.
As a consequence of this review, this Agency came into being on 1 March 1996 and copies of the Framework Document and Corporate Plan
have been placed in the Library of the House of Commons.
Our efficiency programme is estimated to achieve savings of £27m over the 10 year Long Term Costing period. Clearly it is too early
in the life of the Agency to have completed market testing exercises for the services we provide, but our corporate plan identifies
the strategies designed to deliver value for money and cost effective services. In brief these strategies are to: (a) Utilize the
Private Sector for direct deliveries of medical material of end users and the setting up of dormant contracts, where appropriate, to
enable a percentage of War Maintenance Reserve (WMR) to be held by trade. This would drive down the need to hold stocks and limit
the storage facilities to the minimum required for operational purposes. (b) Factor out the non-core functions to the most cost
effective provider, whether Public or Private sector. This in turn will enable a further rationalisation of sites within the medical
supply organisation. There are a number of areas where Service Level Agreements with other MOD authorities, who are also pursuing
efficiency programmes, would be appropriate, for example, Army Base Storage and Distribution Agency (ABSDA) and Director of
Transport and Movement Executive (DTM(X)). Emphasis will be placed on customer satisfaction through both control of supply and
distribution. With the resultant rise in customer confidence, it is expected that there will be a corresponding reduction in local
stock holdings. (c) Develop partnership arrangements with authorities beyond MOD either in Industry or other elements of the Public
Sector such as the Buying Agency and the National Health Service Supplies Authority (NHSSA). Discussions with a variety of existing
and potential suppliers are being carried out. (d) Commission a review of policy concerning range and standardisation of material.
Proposals for rationalising range and prescribing policy will be submitted to the Surgeon General for approval. This will achieve a
reduction in programme costs.
As these measures are carried out, the Medical Supply Organisation will reduce in size and will eventually have a core of service
medical personnel, with the necessary clinical skills, working closely with a civilian team to provide a compact multi-disciplined
team. This will be the source of purchasing, provisioning, clinical and technical support to advise the Surgeon General and provide
him with advice with regard to the acquisition of material and related services and to support Operations more effectively through
integrated Operational Supply Chains.
I hope this is helpful.
Letter from P. R. Wildman to Mr. Martin Redmond, dated 4 June 1996:
I am replying to your Question to the Secretary of State for Defence about market testing carried out by government agencies. This
matter falls within my area of responsibility, as Chief Executive, as far as the Military Survey Defence Agency is concerned.
No market testing has been completed by Military Survey to date. The three initiatives started in 1993 ceased to be candidates when
they fell below revised financial thresholds. However, these initiatives have now been reviewed under Competing For Quality (CFQ)
guidelines and a new CFQ programme is being developed. It is anticipated that further information will be published in the 1996 Next
Steps Review and the 1996/7 Agency Annual Report.
Letter from W. E. E. Boreham to Mr. Martin Redmond, dated 4 June 1996:
I am replying to your Question to the Secretary of State for Defence about market testing, as this falls into my area of
responsibility as Chief Constable/Chief Executive of the Ministry of Defence Police Agency.
The non-core activities of Ministry of Defence Police business were market tested as part of our prior options exercise, which
resulted in the placement of contracts, at MDP Wethersfield, covering catering, estate management, grounds maintenance,
accommodation services, cleaning and administration, effective from April 1993. The resultant savings are in excess of £300K per
annum. Letter from W. S. Graham to Mr. Martin Redmond, dated 4 June 1996:
1. I am replying to your Question to the Secretary of State for Defence, that asked what market testing has been carried out into
the services provided by the `Naval Aircraft Repair Organisation (NARO)' and what were the results, as the matter falls within my
area of responsibility as Chief Executive of the NARO.
2. No market testing has been carried out in respect of services provided by the NARO.
Letter from J. H. S. McAnally to Mr. Martin Redmond, dated 4 June 1996:
The Secretary of State for Defence has asked me to reply to your Parliamentary Question, about agency Market Testing (MT)
initiatives, in my capacity as Chief Executive of the Naval Recruiting and Training Agency (NRTA).
The NRTA came into being on 1 April 1995. During the 1980s and prior to the formation of the Ministry of Defence Market Testing
Organisation, the Royal Navy contracted out a number of shore establishment support activities, such as catering, cleaning and
grounds maintenance.
In March 1995, one small Market Test was successfully concluded at the Britannia Royal Naval College boat maintenance facility at
Sandquay, Dartmouth. In addition, MT feasibility studies were conducted in late 1994, at two NRTA shore training establishments.
Both of these studies concluded independently that further scope for possible savings from MT were likely to be limited and would
involve multiple, management intensive, tests of small identifiable units, with the accompanying need for, and expense of,
consultancy support for in-house team bidders. As a consequence, the NRTA is developing a Partnering Initiative as an alternative to
the traditional MT approach, whilst still complying with Governmental Competing for Quality (CFQ) policy. The Partnering Initiative
will, in addition to providing "standard" CFQ savings in services delivery, provide a third party income stream to help offset the
overhead costs of the NRTA infrastructure.
Letter from M. A. Rowe to Mr. Martin Redmond, dated 4 June 1996:
I am replying to your Question to the Secretary of State for Defence about market testing where it relates to my area of
responsibility as Chief Executive of the Pay & Personnel Agency.
My Agency was launched on 1 February 1996 and no market testing of the services we provide has been carried out.
Letter from S. B. Burdess to Mr. Martin Redmond, dated 4 June 1996:
I am replying, on behalf of Air Vice-Marshal R. H. Kyle, who is currently on leave, to your Question to the Secretary of State for
Defence about market testing within his Department's Agencies as this matter falls within his responsibility as Chief Executive of
the Royal Air Force Maintenance Group Defence Agency (RAF MGDA).
Competing for Quality figures for the period between April 1995 and March 1996 are being compiled for our Agency's Efficiency Plan.
It is anticipated that this information will be published in the 1996 Nest Steps Review.
Letter from P. C. Ayee to Mr. Martin Redmond, dated 4 June 1996:
I am replying to your question to the Secretary of State for Defence asking if he would list for each of his Department's Agencies
what market testing has been carried out into the services they provide, and what the results were. This matter falls within my area
of responsibility as Chief Executive of the Royal Air Force Signals Engineering Establishment.
My Agency is currently market testing a multi-activity package of its supporting activities, covering motor transport, provisioning,
catering, information technology, communications and selected administrative services, and valued at £8m per annum in pay costs.
Five external bids and one in-house bid have been received and are currently being evaluated. The successful bidder is expected to
be announced in time for implementation of the results in January 1997.
Letter from J. A. G. May to Mr. Martin Redmond, dated 4 June 1996:
I am replying to your Question to the Secretary of State for Defence about market testing of services insofar as this bears on my
responsibilities for the Royal Air Force Training Group Defence Agency.
Up to 31 March 1995, the following activities contributed to the Agency's response to the Defence Market Testing Initiative and the
targets set by Departmental Plan 92: (a) Support Services at Royal Air Force Scampton. The Support Services at Royal Air Force
Scampton were contractorized. The Station has since been closed. (b) The Joint Elementary Flying Training Squadron at Royal Air
Force Topcliffe. The Joint Elementary Flying Training Squadron at Royal Air Force Topcliffe was contractorized. The Squadron,
together with the Contractor, has since moved to Royal Air Force Barkston Heath. (c) Supply Services at Royal Air Force Locking. The
market test of the Supply Services at Royal Air Force Locking was put into abeyance pending decisions on the future of the Station.
It has since been decided to close the Station.
Except for the outcome of the recent competition in respect of Support Services at Royal Air Force Valley, which we hope will be
announced shortly, the Agency's Competing for Quality forward programme for the period from 1 April 1995 to 31 March 1996 has yet to
be finalized. It is expected that the outstanding conclusions will be published in the 1996 Next Steps Review.
I am sending a copy of this letter to my Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief.
Letter from I. S. Mitchelson to Mr. Martin Redmond, dated 4 June 1996:
I am replying to your question to the Secretary of State for Defence relating to market testing within each of his Department's
Agencies, insofar as this matter falls within my area of responsibility as Chief Executive of Service Children's Education.
For the period up until March 1996 this Agency had not yet completed the market testing of any of its services. This Agency is,
however, currently involved in a wider market test concerning Army Catering and Mess Services in Germany. The project is being led
by the United Kingdom Support Command (Germany) and the market test includes catering and cleaning in Service Schools in Germany;
contractual arrangements are planned to be effective from 1 October 1997.
Letter from Brian Raine to Mr. Martin Redmond, dated 4 June 1996:
I am replying to your Question to the Secretary of State for Defence about what market testing has been carried out into the
services we provide and the results thereof as this matter falls within my area of responsibility as Chief Executive of Queen
Victoria School.
Since Queen Victoria School became an Agency on 1st April 1992 no market testing has been carried out into the services we provide.
We currently have no plans to carry out market testing in the future.
If you have any further questions about this please do not hesitate to contact me.
Subjects
Executive agencies; Contracts for services; Government departments; Ministry of Defence Police; Ministry of Defence; Defence Evaluation and Research Agency; Army Base Repair Organisation; Army Technical Support Agency; Defence Secondary Care Agency; Met Office; UK Hydrographic Office; Defence agencies; Pay and Personnel Agency; Defence Postal and Courier Services; Defence Bills Agency; Defence Transport and Movements Executive; Naval Recruiting and Training Agency; Army Base Storage and Distribution Agency; Army Individual Training Organisation; Defence Dental Agency; Defence Clothing and Textiles Agency; RAF Maintenance Group; Naval Aircraft Repair Organisation; Defence Animal Centre; RAF Signals Engineering Establishment; Logistic Information Systems Agency; Disposal Sales Agency; Defence Analytical Services Agency; Duke of York's Royal Military School; Medical Supplies Agency; Joint Air Reconnaissance Intelligence Centre; Military Survey
Date
4 June 1996
Reference
30115; 278 c346-54W
House
House of Commons
How much was spent on official hospitality by his Department and all associated agencies in the financial year 1995-96. - Includes text of letters from various agencies.
How much was spent on official hospitality by his Department and all associated agencies in the financial year 1995-96. - Includes text of letters from various agencies.
Asked by
Lord Stratford
(Labour)
Answered by
Lord Soames of Fletching
(Conservative)
Answering body
Ministry of Defence
Type
Written questions
Status
Answered
For answer on
9 May 1996
Answered on
9 May 1996
Mr. Tony Banks: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how much was spent on official hospitality by his Department and all
associated agencies in the financial year 1995-96. [28568]
Mr. Soames: During financial year 1995-96 my Department spent £5.105 million on official hospitality. These figures include
expenditure incurred by the Ministry of Defence itself, by formations and establishments of the armed forces at home and abroad, and
by individual officers occupying command and international appointments for which entertainment allowances are payable. Where
responsibility for such expenditure falls to the chief executives of my Department's agencies I have asked the chief executives to
reply direct to the hon. Member.
Letter from J. R. Drew to Mr. Tony Banks, dated 9 May 1996:
I am replying to your question to the Secretary of State for Defence about how much was spent on official hospitality in his
Department and associated agencies in 1995/96 as this matter falls within my area of responsibility as Chief Executive of the Army
Base Repair Organisation (ABRO).
During the financial year 1995/96 ABRO spent £5,886 on official hospitality.
letter from K. J. W. Goad to Mr. Tony Banks, dated 9 May 1996:
I am replying to your question to the Secretary of State for Defence regarding official hospitality by his Department and all
associated agencies in the financial year 1995-96. As Chief Executive of the Army Base Storage and Distribution Agency (ABSDA), I
reply with the Agency's details.
The total spend on official hospitality for my Agency as a whole (i.e. across all 10 main Depot locations and 24 smaller locations
in Great Britain and Germany) in the financial year 1995/96 was £16,389.77.
Thank you very much for your enquiry. I hope this is sufficient detail to meet your requirements. Should you require any further
information please contact me.
Letter from Paul Altobell to Mr. Tony Banks, dated 9 May 1996:
I am replying to your question to the Secretary of State for Defence about official hospitality as this matter falls within my area
of responsibility as Chief Executive of the Defence Analytical Services Agency (DASA).
DASA spent £769.24 on official hospitality in financial year 1995/96. Letter from A. H. Roache to Mr. Tony Banks, dated 9 May 1996:
As Chief Executive of the Defence Animal Centre (DAC) I am replying to your Question to the Secretary of State for Defence regarding
how much was spent on official hospitality by his Department and all associated agencies in the financial year 1995/96.
The DAC did not expend Agency funds on official hospitality in the period indicated.
Letter from Michael Roycroft to Mr. Tony Banks, dated 9 May 1996:
I am replying to your question to the Secretary of State for Defence about expenditure on official entertainment, as this matter
falls within my area of responsibility as Chief Executive of the Defence Clothing & Textile Agency.
Expenditure on official entertainment for the financial year 1995/96 was £2943.
I hope this information answers your question, if I can be of further assistance to you please do not hesitate to contact me.
Letter from John Chisholm to Mr. Tony Banks, dated 9 May 1996:
The Secretary of State for Defence has asked me to reply on behalf of the Defence Evaluation and Research Agency (DERA) to your
question about expenditure on official hospitality in 1995/96.
In the financial year 1995/96 DERA spent a total of £47787 on official hospitality.
I hope this information is helpful.
Letter from T. McG Browne to Mr. Tony Banks, dated 8 May 1996:
I am replying to your Parliamentary Question to the Secretary of State for Defence, the Rt Hon Michael Portillo MP, regarding the
cost of official hospitality within the MoD and all associated agencies during financial year 1995/96.
This matter falls within my area of responsibility as Chief Executive of the Defence Postal & Courier Services Agency. The official
hospitality expenditure by my agency during 1995/96 was £2,100. This figure is provisional and, subject to audit, will be included
in my Agency's Annual Report which will be laid before Parliament later this summer.
I hope this information is helpful.
Letter from M. G. R. Hodson to Mr. Tony Banks, dated 9 May 1996:
I am replying to your Question to the Secretary of State for Defence, about official hospitality, as this matter falls within my
area of responsibility as Chief Executive of the Defence Transport and Movements Executive Agency.
In the last financial year, the cost of hospitality, which is included in the running cost budget for my agency, was £2,120. This
was somewhat higher than usual because I was honoured to host both the Chief Executives' and Agency Administrators' Conferences
during 1995.
Letter from Keith Ellender to Mr. Tony Banks, dated 9 May 1996:
I am replying to your Question to the Secretary of State for Defence about how much was spent on official hospitality in the
financial year 1995-96, as this matter falls within my area of responsibility as Chief Executive of the Disposal Sales Agency.
The amount spent by my Agency on official hospitality in the financial year 1995-96 was £5,502
Letter from W. E. Spreadbury to Mr. Tony Banks, dated 9 May 1996:
In the absence on duty of the Chief Executive, I am replying to your Question to the Secretary of State for Defence concerning
expenditure on official hospitality.
This Agency spent £3207 on official hospitality in the financial year 1995-96.
Letter from M. R. Pack to Mr. Tony Banks, dated 9 May 1996:
1. You recently asked the Secretary of State for Defence a Parliamentary Question relating to the costs incurred by the Department
and associated agencies in providing official hospitality during the financial year 1995-96. As your question relates, in part, to
the Hydrographic Office it has been referred to us for a reply.
2. In the normal course of events my Chief Executive, Rear Admiral Clarke would have replied to you personally but I am afraid he is
presently absent from the Office on official duty so I have been asked to reply to you on his behalf.
3. During the financial year 1995-96 a total of £22,387 was expended by the Hydrographic Office on official entertainment.
4. I hope this information has been helpful.
Letter from A. W. Pollard to Mr. Tony Banks, dated 9 May 1996:
I am replying to your Parliamentary Question to the Secretary of State for Defence about the expenditure on official hospitality by
executive agencies. As Chief Executive, this falls within my area of responsibility for the Logistic Information Systems Agency
(LISA).
This agency has incurred no expenses in regard to hospitality.
If you have any further questions, please do not hesitate to contact me.
Letter from J. C. R. Hunt to Mr. Tony Banks, dated 9 May 1996:
As Chief Executive of the Meteorological Office I am replying to your recent question which asked how much was spent on official
hospitality in the financial year 1995-96.
The hospitality expenditure in 1995-96 was £24,524. It was spent in the course of winning some £20M worth of commercial business and
maintaining in international fora the standing of the Office as a world class science-based organisation.
Letter from M. J. Sands to Mr. Tony Banks, dated 9 May 1996:
I am replying to your Question to the Secretary of State for Defence about expenditure on official hospitality as this matter falls
within the area of responsibility of the Chief Executive as far as the Military Survey Defence Agency is concerned. I regret that
the Chief Executive is not available to reply personally due to absence on duty.
The sum spent on official hospitality in this Agency in Financial Year 1995-96 was £6,354. This expenditure was primarily in support
of the maintenance and extension of highly cost-effective arrangements for the international exchange of geographic material.
Letter form W. S. Graham to Mr. Tony Banks, dated 9 May 1996:
1. I am replying to your Question to the Secretary of State for Defence, that asked how much was spent on official hospitality by
the `Naval Aircraft Repair Organisation (NARO)' in the financial year 1995-96 as the matter falls within my area of responsibility
as Chief Executive of the NARO.
2. The sum of £1,299 (One Thousand Two Hundred and Ninety Nine Pounds) was spent on official hospitality in financial year 1995-96.
Letter from I. P. Somervaille to Mr. Tony Banks, dated 9 May 1996:
The Secretary of State for Defence has asked the Chief Executive of the Naval Recruiting and Training Agency (NRTA) to reply to your
Parliamentary Question about the expenditure on official hospitality in the NRTA in the financial year 1995-96. I am replying on
behalf of the Chief Executive.
The total expenditure on official hospitality in the NRTA in the financial year 1995-96 is £67,731.45.
Letter from Brian Raine to Mr. Tony Banks, dated 8 May 1996:
I am replying to your Question to the Secretary of State for Defence on how much was spent on official hospitality by his Department
and all associated agencies in the financial year 1995- 96.
Queen Victoria School total for 1995-96 was £4,766.82.
If you have any further questions about this please do not hesitate to contact me.
Letter from P. C. Ayee to Mr. Tony Banks, dated 9 May 1996:
I am replying to your question to the Secretary of State for Defence about how much was spent on official hospitality by his
department and all associated agencies in the financial year 1995-96, as this matter falls within my responsibility as Chief
Executive of the Royal Air Force Signals Engineering Establishment.
In 1995-96 the cost of hospitality, which is included in the running cost budget for my agency, was £975.
Letter from A. A. Nicholson to Mr. Tony Banks, dated 9 May 1996:
I am replying to your Question to the Secretary of State for Defence about expenditure on official hospitality insofar as this bears
on my responsibilities for the Royal Air Force Training Group Defence Agency.
In the financial year 1995/96, the Training Group Defence Agency spent £1964 from its budget on official hospitality. Details of
Hospitality Grants made from central funds direct in individual units are not included, but will be incorporated in the figures to
be provided for the Department.
I am sending a copy of this letter to the Agency's owner, the Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief Personnel and Training Command.
Letter from T. S. Mitchelson to Mr. Tony Banks, dated 9 May 1996:
1. I am replying to your Question to the Secretary of Defence about official hospitality as this matter falls within my area of
responsibility as the Chief Executive of the Service Children's Education Agency. The information that I supply below for Financial
Year 1995/96 relates to the Service Children's Schools (North West Europe) Agency which was subsumed by SCE on 1 April 1996.
2. During 1995/96 £296.58 was spent on official hospitality.
Letter from S. B. J. Wilks to Mr. Tony Banks, dated 9 May 1996:
I am replying to your question to the Secretary of State for Defence about the provision of hospitality in the financial year
1995/96, in the absence of the Chief Executive Army Technical Support Agency (ATSA), as this matter falls within his area of
responsibility.
ATSA launched in October 1995 but formed as a Directorate on 1 April 1995. During 1995/96 £11,300 was spent on official hospitality.
Letter from M. A. Rowe to Mr. Tony Banks, dated 9 May 1996:
I am replying to your Question to the Secretary of State for Defence about spending on official hospitality where it relates to my
area of responsibility as Chief Executive of the Pay Personnel Agency. I am also replying on behalf of the Defence Accounts Agency
which ceased to exist on 1 February 1996, following the creation of the Defence Bills Agency on 1 January 1996 and the return of the
Directorate of Financial Management Accounting Services to MOD HQ on 1 December 1995.
The figures you sought, for the two Agencies, are as follows:
Defence Accounts Agency: £608
Pay and Personnel Agency: £137
Letter from T. R. Thurgate to Mr. Tony Banks, dated 9 May 1996:
I am replying to your Question to the Secretary of State for Defence about expenditure on official hospitality during the financial
year 1995-96 as this matter falls within my area of responsibility as Chief Executive of Defence Bills Agency. I can confirm that
for the three months from the launch of the Defence Bills Agency on 1 January 1996 until the end of the financial year the total
expenditure on hospitality was £46.00.
I trust that this reply meets your requirements.
Subjects
Executive agencies; Expenditure; Government departments; Ministry of Defence; Defence Evaluation and Research Agency; Army Base Repair Organisation; Army Technical Support Agency; Met Office; Official hospitality; Service Children's Education; UK Hydrographic Office; Queen Victoria School; Defence Postal and Courier Services; Defence Bills Agency; Defence Transport and Movements Executive; Naval Recruiting and Training Agency; Army Base Storage and Distribution Agency; RAF Training Group; Defence Clothing and Textiles Agency; Naval Aircraft Repair Organisation; Defence Animal Centre; RAF Signals Engineering Establishment; Defence Accounts Agency; Logistic Information Systems Agency; Disposal Sales Agency; Defence Analytical Services Agency; Duke of York's Royal Military School; Military Survey
Date
9 May 1996
Reference
28568; 277 c227-31W
House
House of Commons
What agreements his Department and its executive agencies have with companies for the provision of mobile and car phones; and if he will list the companies having these contracts, the duration of the contracts, the number of phones covered by each agreement and the cost to public funds of each...
What agreements his Department and its executive agencies have with companies for the provision of mobile and car phones; and if he will list the companies having these contracts, the duration of the contracts, the number of phones covered by each agreement and the cost to public funds of each...
Asked by
Brian H Donohoe
(Labour)
Answered by
Lord Arbuthnot of Edrom
(Conservative)
Answering body
Ministry of Defence
Type
Written questions
Status
Answered
For answer on
19 January 1996
Answered on
19 January 1996
Subjects
Contracts; Costs; Executive agencies; Expenditure; Government departments; Mobile phones; Ministry of Defence; Defence Evaluation and Research Agency; Army Base Repair Organisation; Army Technical Support Agency; Met Office; UK Hydrographic Office; Queen Victoria School; Defence Postal and Courier Services; Defence Transport and Movements Executive; Naval Recruiting and Training Agency; Army Base Storage and Distribution Agency; RAF Training Group; Defence Clothing and Textiles Agency; Service Children's Schools (North West Europe); RAF Maintenance Group; Naval Aircraft Repair Organisation; Defence Animal Centre; RAF Signals Engineering Establishment; Defence Accounts Agency; Logistic Information Systems Agency; Disposal Sales Agency; Defence Analytical Services Agency; Duke of York's Royal Military School; Military Survey
Date
19 January 1996
Reference
269 c848-60W;269 c846-58W; 9734;9736;9735
House
House of Commons
What action heads of his Department's executive agencies are taking to safeguard the provision of pre-retirement courses in the event of such agencies seeking to make economies. - Text of letters from G H Wilson of the Duke of Yorks Royal Military School, P Niedzwiedzki of Service Childrens Schools, Colonel...
What action heads of his Department's executive agencies are taking to safeguard the provision of pre-retirement courses in the event of such agencies seeking to make economies. - Text of letters from G H Wilson of the Duke of Yorks Royal Military School, P Niedzwiedzki of Service Childrens Schools, Colonel...
Asked by
Martin Redmond
(Labour)
Answered by
Lord Arbuthnot of Edrom
(Conservative)
Answering body
Ministry of Defence
Type
Written questions
Status
Answered
For answer on
15 January 1996
Answered on
15 January 1996
Mr. Redmond: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what action heads of his Department's executive agencies are taking to
safeguard the provision of pre-retirement courses in the event of such agencies seeking to make economies; and if he will make a
statement. [9146]
Mr. Arbuthnot: These matters are the responsibility of the chief executives of the Defence Agencies. I have asked the chief
executives of the agencies to write to the hon. Member.
Letter from G. H. Wilson to Mr. Martin Redmond, dated 15 January 1996:
I am replying to your Question to the Secretary of State for Defence concerning the safeguarding of the provision of pre-retirement
courses as this matter falls within my area of responsibility as Chief Executive of this Agency.
We are not seeking to make economies in this area and I am taking positive action to safeguard any entitlement to pre-retirement
courses which Service personnel of this Agency have.
Letter from P. Niedzwiedzki to Mr. Martin Redmond, dated 15 January 1996:
Reference:
A. PQ Reference: 9883G
I am replying to your question to the Secretary of State for Defence about the provision of pre-retirement courses as this area
falls within the area of responsibility of the Chief Executive of Service Children's Schools (North West Europe) Agency.
SCS(NWE) staff are eligible to apply for places on MOD pre-retirement courses. Course places are arranged and approved by
CM(Welfare) and the courses themselves are usually held in the UK. Participant's travel and subsistence expenses are met by the
Agency. There is a regular uptake of such courses by SCS(NWE) staff.
The Agency's Framework Document confirms that welfare services are one of a range of central services provided by the MOD to the
Agency. SCS(NWE) expects the current level of welfare support, including pre-retirement sources, to be continued without diminution.
Letter from Colonel A. H. Roach to Mr. Martin Redmond, dated 15 January 1996:
I am replying to your Question to the Secretary of State for Defence about what action heads of his Department's executive agencies
are taking to safeguard the provision of pre-retirement courses in the event of such agencies seeking to make economies as this
matter falls within my area of responsibility as Chief Executive of the Defence Animal Centre (DAC).
The DAC has no intention, either now or in the future, of seeking to economise on the provision of pre-retirement courses to
eligible military or civilian personnel.
Letter from Paul Altobell to Mr. Martin Redmond, dated 15 January 1996:
Parliamentary enquiry number 9883g
I am replying to your question to the Secretary of State for Defence about pre-retirement courses as this matter falls within my
area of responsibility as Chief Executive of the Defence Analytical Services Agency (DASA).
DASA has no plans to take special action in respect of pre-retirement courses. It is our custom to follow the lead of our parent
department, the Ministry of Defence, in these matters.
Letter from Brigadier A. W. Pollard to Mr. Martin Redmond, dated 15 January 1996:
Parliamentary Question (PQ9883G--The Provision of Pre-retirement Courses to Agency Personnel
I am replying to your Parliamentary Question to the Secretary of State for Defence about what action I am taking to safeguard the
provision of pre-retirement courses, as this matter falls within my area of responsibility as Chief Executive of the Logistic
Information Systems Agency (LISA).
All of my military staff who reach the end of their careers while serving at LISA are entitled to the normal resettlement facilities
offered by the Services. My civilian staff have the same access as that enjoyed by other Civil Servants to a comprehensive programme
of pre-retirement courses.
I am keen to preserve the entitlement in both cases and, in my Agency, they would be unlikely targets for saving measures.
Letter from J. R. Prince to Mr. Martin Redmond, dated 15 January 1996:
Parliamentary Question--Army Technical Support Agency
I am replying to your question to the Secretary of State for Defence about safeguarding the provision of pre-retirement courses in
the event of Agencies seeking to make economies as this matter falls in my area of responsibility.
The number of staff reaching retirement age in the Army Technical Support Agency in any one year is small, as are the costs
associated with pre-retirement training courses. I regard pre-retirement training as an important part of preparing loyal Agency
staff for retirement and, as such, would not expect to include such training in any economy exercise.
Letter from R. H. Embleton to Mr. Martin Redmond, dated 15 January 1996:
In the absence on duty of the Chief Executive, I am replying to your Question to the Secretary of State for Defence about
safeguarding the provision of pre-retirement courses.
I regard the provision of pre-retirement courses as important. All military and civilian staff of the Defence Postal and Courier
Services Agency are encouraged to attend such courses as they may be eligible, and entitled to under MOD regulations. I have no
plans to change this situation.
Letter from Rear Admiral J. H. S. McAnally to Mr. Martin Redmond, dated 15 January 1996:
The Secretary of State for Defence has asked me to reply to your Parliamentary Question, about safeguarding the provision of
pre-retirement courses in the event of agency economies, in my capacity as Chief Executive of the Naval Recruiting and Training
Agency (NRTA).
All but the most senior (CDS) Naval personnel leave the Royal Navy before the national retirement age. In order to assist them in
preparing for, and identifying a suitable second career in civilian life, they are eligible to undertake a variety of pre-release
resettlement (pre-retirement) training.
The provision of resettlement training is the responsibility of the tri-Service Resettlement Organisation (TSRO) which does not form
part of the NRTA. However, as Chief Executive of the NRTA, I am publicly committed in the Agency Corporate Plan "to meet the
Personnel Functional Standards in respect of Service Personnel and, where appropriate, adopt similar principles for civilian
employees." Personnel Functional Standards are a set of mandatory and common standards that are applied to all RN personnel wherever
they are serving. The Standards may not be amended without the approval of the Navy Board. An appropriate Personnel Functional
standard exists for the provision of resettlement training.
In view of the foregoing, if it should be necessary to seek economies from within the agency, the provision of resettlement courses
should not be affected.
Letter from Air Vice-Marshal R. H. Kyle to Mr. Martin Redmond, dated 15 January 1996:
I am replying to your Question to the Secretary of State for Defence about safeguarding the provision of pre-retirement courses in
the event of Defence Agencies seeking to make economies because this matter falls within my area of responsibility as Chief
Executive of the Royal Air Force Maintenance Group Defence Agency (RAF MGDA).
All retiring MOD Civil Servants employed within the RAF MGDA have the opportunity to attend a pre-retirement course; this would
normally take place within their last 12 months of service. I recognise this as a most valuable contribution to preparing staff for
retirement and it is not a provision which would suffer as a result of any economy measure within the RAF MGDA. To reinforce this I
shall be including an appropriate commitment in the RAF MGDA Civilian Training Plan.
Letter from Keith Ellender to Mr. Martin Redmond, dated 15 January 1996:
I am replying to your Question to the Secretary of State for Defence about the provision of pre-retirement courses as this matter
falls within my area of responsibility as Chief Executive of the Disposal Sales Agency.
The provision of pre-retirement courses for staff in my Agency comes from central Ministry of Defence funds, in the same way that it
used to before agency status was achieved.
Letter from Brian Raine to Mr. Martin Redmond, dated 15 January 1996:
I am replying to your Question to the Secretary of State for Defence about safeguarding the provision of pre-retirement courses as
this matter falls within my area of responsibility as Chief Executive of Queen Victoria School.
I attach considerable importance to pre-retirement courses and staff are invited to apply for such courses conducted by either the
Civil Service Council for Further Education or Local Education Authorities. This Agency has not sought, and currently has no plans
to seek, economies in this area.
If you have any further questions about this do not hesitate to contact me.
Letter from D. A. Thomas to Mr. Martin Redmond, dated 15 January 1996:
I am replying to your Question to the Secretary of State for Defence about pre-retirement courses on behalf of the Chief Executive
of the Defence Accounts Agency as this matters falls within his area of responsibility.
The Defence Accounts Agency will continue to ensure that all eligible staff have the opportunity to attend pre-retirement courses.
Currently, provision within the Agency is normally by the MOD Welfare Service, but, if necessary, courses are also arranged locally
on site or externally. Irrespective of any future proposed economy measures, it is not intended that these arrangements should be
altered.
Letter from Captain W. S. Graham to Mr. Martin Redmond, dated 15 January 1996:
1. I am replying to your Question to the Secretary of State for Defence on what action is taken within the `Naval Aircraft Repair
Organisation (NARO)' to safeguard the provision of pre-retirement courses as the matter falls within my area of responsibility as
Chief Executive of the NARO.
2. Personnel have the opportunity to attend pre-retirement courses in Portsmouth Naval Base. There are 4 per year.
3. In the event that they were stopped, we would organise our own, either by using in-house training facilities or contractors.
Letter from P. A. James to Mr. Martin Redmond, dated 15 January 1996:
I am replying, on behalf of the Chief Executive of Military Survey Defence Agency (who is on duty in Germany) to your Question to
the Secretary of State for Defence about the provision of pre-retirement courses in Executive Agencies, as this matter falls within
the Chief Executive's area of responsibility and I am his deputy.
Military Survey supports the continued use of pre-retirement courses run by the Ministry of Defence.
Military Survey has always encouraged personnel to attend pre-retirement courses. We have no plans to change this policy.
Letter from Brigadier M. G. R. Hodson to Mr. Martin Redmond, dated 15 January 1996:
I am replying to your Question (PQ9883G) to the Secretary of State for Defence, about safeguarding the provision of pre-retirement
courses, as this matter falls within my area of responsibility as Chief Executive of the Defence Transport and Movements Executive
Agency (DTMX).
For civil servants, pre-retirement courses are carried out centrally and continue to be available to Agency staff. Courses are
normally offered 6 months before retirement and there are no plans to restrict their availability.
For Service personnel, resettlement courses, which are comprehensive and available to all military in their last two years of
service, and are designed to provide training for a second career, continue to be provided. There are no plans to limit eligibility.
I trust that this answers your concerns. Please be assured that I will always act in the best interests of my staff, both civilian
and military.
Letter from Brigadier M. J. Roycroft to Mr. Martin Redmond, dated 15 January 1996:
I am replying to your Question to the Secretary of State for Defence about the provision of pre-retirement courses.
As the Chief Executive of the Defence Clothing and Textiles Agency (DCTA), I can confirm that my Agency will continue to offer all
eligible staff the opportunity of attending pre-retirement courses. I do not foresee a situation arising which would cause me to
change this policy.
If I can be of further help to you, please let me know.
Letter from J. C. R. Hunt to Mr. Martin Redmond, dated 15 January 1996:
I am replying to your Question to the Secretary of State for Defence about pre-retirement courses as, for the staff of the
Meterological Office, this matter falls within my area of responsibility as Chief Executive.
The Meterological Office offers a pre-retirement course to all staff. I have no intention of changing this practice.
Letter from Air Commodore P. C. Ayee to Mr. Martin Redmond, dated 15 January 1996:
I am replying to your question to the Secretary of State for Defence about what actions heads of executive agencies were taking to
safeguard pre-retirement courses, as this matter falls within my area of responsibility as Chief Executive of the Royal Air Force
Signals Engineering Establishment Defence Agency.
The cost of pre-retirement courses do not fall to the Agency. Pre-retirement courses for civil servants are funded directly from MOD
central funds, and resettlement courses for service personnel are funded by the RAF Personnel and Training Command. Thus, any Agency
economies would not affect the provision of such courses.
Letter from M. R. Pack to Mr. Martin Redmond, dated 15 January 1996:
Your Question to the Secretary of State for Defence about pre-retirement courses for staff in his agencies has been referred to the
Chief Executive of the Hydrographic Office. Unfortunately Admiral Essenhigh is at present absent from the Office on official duty so
I am replying to you on his behalf.
It is the policy of the Hydrographic Office Defence Agency to offer pre-retirement courses to all employees who are approaching
retirement. These pre-retirement courses are conducted by the Somerset College of Arts and Technology which is based in Taunton.
There is no intention that this policy should be changed in any way.
It is recognised by the senior management of the Hydrographic Office that these courses provide a very valuable service in assisting
staff to cope better with the transition to the different lifestyle which retirement brings.
I hope this information has been of assistance.
Letter from Air Commodore A. A. Nicholson to Mr. Martin Redmond, dated 15 January 1996:
I am replying to your Question to the Secretary of State for Defence about safeguarding the provision of pre-retirement courses in
executive agencies, insofar as this bears on my own responsibilities for the Training Group Defence Agency.
I can confirm that this Agency is not seeking to make economies by reducing the provision of pre-retirement courses; and that I
maintain a close interest in any proposed changes beyond the Agency's boundaries, which might affect my personnel in this respect.
I am sending a copy of this letter to the Agency's owner, the Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief Personnel & Training Command.
Letter from Brigadier K. J. W. Goad to Mr. Martin Redmond, dated 15 January 1996:
As Chief Executive of the Army Base Storage and Distribution Agency (ABSDA), I reply to your question, to the Secretary of State for
Defence, about pre-retirement courses within Defence Agencies.
Pre-retirement courses for both military and civilian ABSDA staff are funded centrally by the MoD. Within the Agency, staff are
actively encouraged to make full use of redundancy counselling, outplacement services and pre-retirement courses. I can state,
categorically, that ABSDA is not seeking to make economies in this area.
I trust that I have fully answered your enquiry; if not, please come back to me.
Letter from Brigadier J. R. Drew to Mr. Martin Redmond, dated 15 January 1996:
I am replying to your Question to the Secretary of State for Defence about pre-retirement courses, as this matter falls within my
area of responsibility as Chief Executive of the Army Base Repair Organisation (ABRO).
There have been no changes in the policy on pre-retirement courses since ABRO was established as a Defence Agency in April 1993. In
accordance with central Ministry of Defence (MOD) policy, all staff have the opportunity to attend one pre-retirement course, which
should take place during the last 12 months of service, to ensure that the information given, particularly on pensions and financial
matters, is current. Where possible the arrangements are tailored to suit the individual. MOD pre-retirement courses are available
either locally or in London, but in some cases individuals opt for courses at nearby colleges.
Staff leaving ABRO on early retirement or redundancy may take advantage of the MOD Outplacement Scheme (MODOPS), which provides a
more extensive range of training and guidance than the standard pre-retirement courses. In the last 6 months some 53 ABRO employees
have retired or been made redundant. Not all choose to attend a pre-retirement course, and in cases of medical retirement this often
proves impractical. During that 6-month period, however, 21 have attended courses at their local college, 6 have attended local MOD
pre-retirement courses and 7 have benefitted from the MOD Outplacement arrangements.
There are no plans to change existing arrangements.
Letter from John Chisholm to Mr. Martin Redmond, dated 16 January 1996:
Your Parliamentary Question to the Secretary of State for Defence asking what action heads of his Department's executive agencies
are taking to safeguard the provision of pre-retirement courses; and if he will make a statement has been passed to me to reply as
the Chief Executive of the Defence Evaluation and Research Agency (DERA).
In DERA, despite a significant cost reduction programme, our policy on retirement is unchanged and pre-retirement courses continue
to be provided for employees. The provision of such courses has been delegated to business sectors, but if the numbers of retirees
does not merit a sector specific event, then individuals may be nominated to a central scheme.
Clearly DERA is always striving to improve it's efficiency and the cost effectiveness of all services, including the provision of
pre-retirement courses is subject to regular review. However, it is our intention to continue to provide these courses since they
are undoubtedly helpful to individuals approaching retirement since they provide guidance and help in making the transition.
I hope this information is helpful.
Subjects
Armed forces; Executive agencies; Civil service; Discharges; Government departments; Ministry of Defence; Training; Retirement; Defence Evaluation and Research Agency; Army Base Repair Organisation; Army Technical Support Agency; Met Office; UK Hydrographic Office; Queen Victoria School; Defence Postal and Courier Services; Defence Transport and Movements Executive; Naval Recruiting and Training Agency; Army Base Storage and Distribution Agency; RAF Training Group; Defence Clothing and Textiles Agency; Service Children's Schools (North West Europe); RAF Maintenance Group; Naval Aircraft Repair Organisation; Defence Animal Centre; RAF Signals Engineering Establishment; Defence Accounts Agency; Logistic Information Systems Agency; Disposal Sales Agency; Defence Analytical Services Agency; Duke of York's Royal Military School; Military Survey
Date
15 January 1996
Reference
269 c431-6W;269 c430-5W; 9146
House
House of Commons