HL Deb 14 November 1991 vol 532 cc649-50

3.10 p.m.

Lord Erroll of Hale asked Her Majesty's Government:

What action they are taking to introduce bar code systems for the more efficient control of navy, army and air force stores at all levels.

The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Ministry of Defence (The Earl of Arran)

My Lords, all three services are working towards early introduction of bar code based systems. A bar coding implementing steering group was set up in 1988 to co-ordinate the implementation of bar coding in MoD supply systems.

Lord Erroll of Hale

My Lords, I thank my noble friend for that forthcoming Answer. Will he arrange for the publication of a progress report in the near future so that we may be better informed about the admirable developments that are taking place?

The Earl of Arran

My Lords, the bar coding implementing steering group to which I have referred already produces an internal annual report. We shall consider whether it is appropriate to publish that. The steering group is in regular contact with industry, especially with the Automatic Identification Marking Association.

Lord Shepherd

My Lords, can the Minister explain why it would be inappropriate for the report to be made available to Members of this House?

The Earl of Arran

My Lords, I have said that we shall consider that.

Lord Beloff

My Lords, will my noble friend tell me what a bar code system is? I always thought that it was concerned with the conduct of barristers.

The Earl of Arran

My Lords, I am happy to be able to tell my noble friend that a bar coding is a form of automatic identification of information. The required information is printed on to a label in such a manner as to allow reading by machine and subsequent transmission to a computer data base. The information contained within the bar code is decided by the user.

Lord Williams of Elvel

My Lords, will the Minister accept that this is not a frivolous matter? It is important. Is it not the case that the Ministry of Defence has bar coding systems different to those used by other government departments and private industry? Is it not in the national interest that there should be compatibility between electronic data systems used by producers, manufacturers and all government departments? Does the noble Earl believe that the Ministry of Defence bar coding systems conform to the international article number standard, which is the fundamental standard used by everyone else?

The Earl of Arran

My Lords, the Ministry of Defence has agreed a standard bar code symbology—that is code 39—which is used by the United States Department of Defense and by NATO.

Lord Williams of Elvel

My Lords, is that bar coding system compatible with international standards as approved by the Article Number Association which runs standards in private industry? Is it not most important that the Ministry of Defence should be in agreement with private industry? It is, after all, a major procurer of private equipment.

The Earl of Arran

My Lords, I cannot now tell the noble Lord precisely whether the system accords with recommended international standards; I shall advise him at a later date. However, it is used by NATO and by the United States Department of Defense, which I believe is just about the right criteria.

Lord Erroll of Hale

My Lords, is the NAAFI introducing bar codes?

The Earl of Arran

My Lords, the NAAFI is not introducing bar codes. It has a different system which operates a computerised floor management system in its principal warehouses.