HC Deb 14 July 1987 vol 119 cc964-5
7. Mr. Forth

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the progress of the management information system for Ministers programme in the Ministry of Defence.

Mr. Younger

The MINIS programme has been evolving steadily over the four years since it was introduced into my Department in 1983. It provides Ministers and top management with an overview of organisation, costs and activities throughout the Ministry and the service commands. For the future, and in line with the information requirements of the financial management initiative, we shall be further developing our management information systems to meet the information needs of top management and generally to stimulate a more systematic approach to monitoring the cost-effective use of resources at all levels.

Mr. Forth

I thank my right hon. Friend for that most encouraging reply. What further proposals does he have for linking MINIS with further aspects of the financial management initiative to gain more benefits in efficiency and operational effectiveness?

Mr. Younger

I very much appreciate my hon. Friend's remarks. MINIS has been only loosely linked with other financial management initiatives, staff responsibility budgets and executive responsibility budgets. Proposals are currently under consideration to encourage those management initiatives within a strategic framework spanning the Department.

Ms. Clare Short

May I ask the Secretary of State to include in this review the wastage caused by the out-of-date and unjust rules of the Ministry of Defence that require pregnant women to resign? I understand that, in particular, nurses employed by the Ministry of Defence must resign and therefore lose their seniority when they become pregnant. Is not this regulation out of date and outrageous in this day and age? Surely this regulation should be reviewed in the case of women serving in the Secretary of State's Department.

Mr. Younger

I appreciate the hon. Lady's question. Of course, we review any out-of-date regulations as often as we can. I might point out that ladies in such a position as outlined by the hon. Lady are perfectly free to rejoin the services if they wish.

Mr. Conway

Has the management information system brought to my right hon. Friend's attention the fact that the Territorial Army provides more than 50 per cent. of the 1st British Corps and most of our national defence at less than 4 per cent. of the Army budget? Is that not more than enough justification for the Territorial enhancement programme to which my right hon. Friend must stick?

Mr. Younger

I entirely agree with my hon. Friend. Last week I was extremely glad to have the opportunity to address the Council of Territorial Auxiliary and Volunteer Reserve Associations and to make some of the points raised by my hon. Friend to it. There is no doubt that the contribution, both in quantity and quality, of the Territorial Army is now an absolutely major factor in the efficiency of the British Army.