Apache Helicopters (Hansard, 13 November 2001)

§ Mr. Gray
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many Apache helicopters there are in the United Kingdom; and how many he plans to buy. [14381]

§ Dr. Moonie
The Ministry of Defence is contracted to purchase a total of 67 Apache aircraft. Currently we own 17, which are based in the United Kingdom.

§ Mr. Gray
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many Apache operating manuals there are in the UK; if Apache operating manuals may be consulted by nonmilitary personnel in the UK; and if DERA personnel are authorised to use Apache operating manuals. [14351]

§ Dr. Moonie
The Apache operating manuals are all computer-based Interactive Electronic Technical Publications (IETPs), which may be loaded onto any computer with the appropriate current user licence. The Ministry of Defence has purchased in the region of 465 laptop computers to receive the software.
Within the Joint Helicopter Command (JHC), both military and non-military personnel are currently authorised to consult the Apache IETPs. The non-military 633W personnel are either civil servants or employees of Westland Helicopters Ltd. (WHL), who are assembling the aircraft under licence from Boeing.
Prior to the vesting of part of the former DERA as QinetiQ plc on 1 July 2001, DERA personnel at the Aircraft Testing and Evaluation (AT&E) facility Boscombe Down, as part of MOD, had access to the Apache operation manuals. However, when these staff transferred to QinetiQ, they were temporarily unable to have access to such proprietary information pending the amendment of WHL's licence with Boeing. The licence amendment was submitted in July and US State Department approval was given on 1 October 2001. Once this approval is implemented, QinetiQ personnel will again be authorised to use the manuals, in support of MOD work.

§ Mr. Gray
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if DERA personnel had access to the Apache Operating Manual before DERA was privatised; and if he will make a statement on the changes that have occurred in DERA' s security classification since privatisation, with special reference to co-operation with the United States of America. [14354]

§ Dr. Moonie
Prior to the vesting of part of the former DERA as QinetiQ plc on 1 July 2001, DERA personnel at the Aircraft Test and Evaluation facility Boscombe Down, as part of the Ministry of Defence, had access to the Apache operating manuals and other proprietary information.
QinetiQ's security arrangements are in line with those of other defence contractors, who carry out work on sensitive contracts for MOD, other Government Departments and international collaborative partners, including the United States of America.