Management Groups (Hansard, 21 July 2004)

§ Mr. Keith Simpson
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the responsibilities of the(a) Defence Housing Executive, (b) Defence Medical Training Organisation, (c) Armed Forces Personnel Administration Agency, (d) Policy Director, (e) Deputy Chief Defence Staff (Equipment Capability), (f) Chief of Defence Intelligence, (g) Defence Intelligence and Security Centre, (h) Internal costs, (i) Programme Account and (j) Nuclear Management Groups. [181747]

§ Mr. Caplin
The responsibilities of the management groupings requested are listed as follows:

(a) This organisation ceased to exist on 31 March 2003 when it was absorbed into Defence Estates.

(b) This organisation ceased to exist on 31 March 2003 following the formation of Defence Medical Education and Training Agency (DMETA).

(c) This Agency, owned by the Deputy Chief of Defence Staff Personnel (DCDS(Pers)), contributes to operational effectiveness through the provision of pay and administration services to Service personnel. In addition, the Agency provides direct support to the mobilization of reservists and the deployment of improved Operational Manpower systems.

(d) The Policy Director is responsible for future defence policy and international security policy.

(e) The Deputy Chief of the Defence Staff (Equipment Capability) heads the Equipment Capability Customer organisation. whose role is to develop an integrated and affordable equipment programme that meets Defence capability requirements, and to drive the delivery of new and enhanced military capability.

(f) The Chief of Defence Intelligence is responsible for the provision of defence intelligence to the MOD, the armed forces, wider Government and allies. His areas of responsibility encompass the Defence Intelligence Staff (DIS) including its agencies, the Defence Geographic and Imagery Intelligence Agency and the Defence Intelligence and Security Centre.

(g) Training in security, languages, intelligence and photography takes place at the Defence Intelligence and Security Centre, who also provide advice on intelligence and security policy.
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(h) This Management Group was discontinued with effect from 31 March 2004. It has been merged with (i) Programme Account.

(i) The responsibilities of the Programme Account Management Group are: the purchase of new equipment systems and associated weapons including major upgrade programmes and system procurement expenses such as studies and the management and funding of Defence Procurement Agency staff, accommodation and all related activities.

(j) The responsibilities of the Nuclear Management Group are; to sustain a safe and effective Nuclear Warhead capability and to discharge MOD's liabilities for waste management and decommissioning at the sites of BNFL and UKAEA.

Further information on individual defence agencies is available in the Library of the House of Commons.

§ Mr. Keith Simpson
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the responsibilities of the(a) Fleet, (b) General Officer Commanding (Northern Ireland), (c) Field Army, (d) 1st (UK) Armoured Division, (e) 2nd Division, (f) 3rd Division, (g) 4th Division, (h) 5th Division, (i) UK Support Command (Germany), (j) Joint Helicopter Command and (k) Land Support management groups. [181779]

§ Mr. Caplin
The responsibilities of the management groupings requested are listed as follows:

(a) The Commander-in-Chief Fleet ensures the Royal Navy carries out its responsibilities by delivering an effective and capable Fleet based on flexible support, the continuous development of people, organisations and capability and through the most efficient use of resources.

(b) It is the responsibility of the GOC NI to implement policy in accordance with Chief of Defence Staff and Chief of General Staff Directives and to support the Chief Constable of the Police Service of Northern Ireland in the defeat of terrorism and in the maintenance of Public Order in order to assist HMG's objective of returning to normality.

(c) Exercising operational command of the Field Army and training designated forces for war and other operations in order to provide military capability in the right place, at the right time in the most cost effective manner.

(d) 1st (UK) Armoured Division is to maintain and where possible enhance the Division's capabilities with emphasis on war in order to set the conditions for future success on operations.

(e) 2nd Division is to provide the most effective regional command and infrastructure support to all formations and units within Scotland and the North of England in order to enable Commander Regional Forces to deliver the required military capability and infrastructure support to CinC LAND.
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(f) 3rd (UK) Division is to exercise operational command, train designated forces for war and other operations, and conduct operations as directed in order to provide military capability within readiness.

(g) 4th Division is to deliver, and where possible enhance, both military capability and the provision of infrastructure support to designated formations and units.

(h) 5th Division is to provide the most effective regional command and infrastructure support to all formations and units within its geographical area in order to enable Commander Regional Forces to deliver and, where possible, enhance the required military capability and infrastructure support to CinC LAND.

(i) The mission of United Kingdom Support Command (Germany) is to deliver, and where possible enhance, both military capability and the provision of infrastructure support to designated formations and units.

(j) Commander Joint Helicopter Command's primary role is to deliver and sustain effective Battlefield Helicopter and Air Assault assets, operationally capable under all environmental conditions, in order to support UK's defence missions and tasks.

(k) Land Support Management Group exists to effectively manage the resources of Headquarters Land Command, and the overall Communication Information Systems requirement for Land Command.