HC Deb 18 February 1997 vol 290 cc465-8W
Dr. John Cunningham

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) what steps have been taken in recent years to reduce the fixed costs of the ranges at(a) Eskmeals and (b) Shoeburyness; [16479]

(2) what are the fixed costs to the Defence Evaluation and Research Agency of providing the ranges at (a) Eskmeals and (b) Shoeburyness. [16480]

Mr. Arbuthnot

This is a matter for the chief executive of the Defence Evaluation and Research Agency. I have asked the chief executive to write to the right hon. Member.

Letter from John Chisholm to Dr. John Cunningham, dated 18 February 1997: I have been asked to reply to your questions about the fixed costs of running the Defence Evaluation and Research Agency (DERA) ranges at Eskmeals and Shoeburyness, and the steps which have been taken to reduce them, since as Chief Executive of DERA, this is a matter for which I am responsible. I will reply to both questions in this letter. The fixed costs of providing accommodation, estate management, security, communications infrastructure and site management, during 1997/8, are expected to be: Shoeburyness: £6,397,000 Eskmeals: £2,138,000 This cost is before the provision of any staff or costs directly associated with the provision of any staff or costs directly associated with the provision or support of trials capabilities. Both ranges have taken steps to reduce their fixed costs. At Eskmeals, savings have been achieved by reducing the numbers of staff, rationalising working practices and reviewing property and estate practices. Similarly, staffing levels and maintenance programmes have been reduced at Shoeburyness. Changes have also been made to the way in which work is done, including the contractorisation of works services. I hope this is helpful.

Dr. Cunningham

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what proportion of the test and evaluation work of(a) Eskmeals range and (b) Shoeburyness range is devoted to (i) new weapon procurement and (ii) equipment improvement programmes to enhance existing defence systems. [16481]

Mr. Arbuthnot

This is a matter for the chief executive of the Defence Evaluation and Research Agency. I have asked the chief executive to write to the right hon. Member.

Letter from John Chisholm to Dr. John Cunningham, dated 18 February 1997: I have been asked to reply to your question about the nature of the work done in support of the Ministry of Defence's equipment procurement programme at the Defence Evaluation and Research Agency (DERA) ranges at Eskmeals and Shoeburyness, since as Chief Executive of DERA, this is a matter for which I am responsible. Work on the Eskmeals range is divided in broadly equal parts between new equipment procurement and equipment improvement programmes. At Shoeburyness, typically half of the tasks undertaken involves the proof testing of weapons and munitions. The remainder of the work is in support of new equipment procurement or improvement programmes, but on both ranges the precise balance varies from year to year. I hope this is helpful.

Dr. Cunningham

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what were the staff complements of(a) Eskmeals range and (b) Shoeburyness range in each of the past five years in each of the categories (i) contractors, (ii) civil servants and (iii) military staff. [16478]

Mr. Arbuthnot

This is a matter for the chief executive of the Defence Evaluation and Research Agency. I have asked the chief executive to write to the right hon. Member.

Letter from John Chisholm to Dr. John Cunningham, dated 18 February 1997: I have been asked to reply to your question about the staff complements of the Defence Evaluation and Research Agency (DERA) ranges at Eskmeals and Shoeburyness, since as Chief Executive of DERA, this is a matter for which I am responsible.

The number of staff working on the ranges, as at 1 April in each of the last 5 years was as follows:

1992 1993 1994 1995 1996
Eskmeals
Civil servants 65 65 63 56 56
Military 12 12 11 9 8
Contractors 174 173 170 148 140
Shoeburyness
Civil servants 83 83 79 77 68
Military 24 24 21 21 18
Contractors 400 388 399 380 343

I hope this is helpful.

Dr. Cunningham

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) what facilities are available at the Eskmeals range that are not available at other ranges of his Department; [16488]

(2) what proportion of the work of the Shoeburyness range involves overwater recovery; and at what other range facilities in the United Kingdom or overseas this work could take place. [16477]

Mr. Arbuthnot

This is a matter for the chief executive of the Defence Evaluation and Research Agency. I have asked the chief executive to write to the right hon. Member.

Letter from John Chisholm to Dr. John Cunningham, dated 18 February 1997: I have been asked to reply to your questions about the facilities and capabilities at the Defence Evaluation and Research Agency (DERA) ranges at Eskmeals and Shoeburyness and their availability at other ranges, since as Chief Executive of DERA, this is a matter for which I am responsible. I will respond to both of these questions in this letter. Although none of the facilities currently available at Eskmeals is directly replicated elsewhere, it would technically be feasible to provide all but one of the capabilities offered by the range on other sites. The firing of ammunition incorporating Depleted Uranium in a contained environment cannot be conducted on any other Ministry of Defence range in the United Kingdom. During the current year, over water recovery is forecast to account for some 5% by value of all work undertaken at Shoeburyness. I am only aware of one other facility, in Australia, at which it is possible to carry out comparable over water recovery. I hope this is helpful.

Dr. Cunningham

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) if the charges for the use of the Eskmeals and Shoeburyness ranges are set at a level commensurate with recovering the costs of operating those facilities; [16482]

(2) what increases in the level of charges were set in each of the last five years for the use of (a) Eskmeals and (b) Shoeburyness ranges. [16483]

Mr. Arbuthnot

This is a matter for the chief executive of the Defence Evaluation and Research Agency. I have asked the chief executive to write to the right hon. Member.

Letter from John Chisholm to Dr. John Cunningham, dated 18 February 1997: I have been asked to reply to your questions about the levels of charges and operating costs and increases in charges of the Defence Evaluation and Research Agency (DERA) ranges at Eskmeals and Shoeburyness, since as Chief Executive of DERA, this is a matter for which I am responsible. I will cover both questions in this letter. Charges for the use of the ranges are set at a level which should enable the full cost of operating the facilities to be recovered, based upon a predicted level of demand. In the event, a significant reduction in the level of customer demand for the facilities on both ranges has resulted in income falling well short of that required to cover the cost of operating them. Information on the level of charges is only available from when DTEO began trading, as part of DERA in 1995. At Eskmeals, the average increase in rates from 1995/6 to 1996/7 was 1.5%. However the basis of charging for the use of facilities at Shoeburyness changed between 1995/6 when, for example, there were five different rates for static trials, and 1996/7 when there were 15. Direct comparisons are not therefore possible. I hope this is helpful.

Dr. Cunningham

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what representations he has received from members of the public regarding the safety of(a) the Eskmeals and (b) the Shoeburyness ranges. [16476]

Mr. Arbuthnot

This is a matter for the chief executive of the Defence Evaluation and Research Agency. I have asked the chief executive to write to the right hon. Member.

Letter from John Chisholm to Dr. John Cunningham, dated 18 February 1997: I have been asked to reply to your question about the numbers of representations that have been received from members of the public regarding safety at the Defence Evaluation and Research Agency (DERA) ranges at Eskmeals and Shoeburyness, since as Chief Executive of DERA, this is a matter for which I am responsible. I am not aware of any concerns expressed by members of the public about the safety of operations at either of the ranges since they became part of DERA in 1995. I hope this is helpful.

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