HC Deb 26 March 1984 vol 57 cc94-5W
Mr. Gordon Brown

asked the Secretary of State for Defence whether Mr. P. J. Levene has signed the Official Secrets Act.

Mr. Heseltine

Yes.

Mr. Gordon Brown

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what remuneration, apart from considerations of salary but including expenses, payment of travel costs, and secretarial and office assistance have been made to Mr. P. J. Levene in his capacity as his personal adviser.

Mr. Heseltine

Mr. Levene is paid no salary nor is any reimbursement made to his company for his services. The Ministry of Defence has agreed to meet any expenses and travel costs incurred by Mr. Levene on departmental business, and has provided him with a civilian and military personal staff, including a secretary, to assist him in his work as my personal adviser.

Mr. Gordon Brown

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the additional reviews and responsibilities now being allocated to Mr. P. J. Leven in his capacity as his personal adviser.

Mr. Heseltine

Mr. Levene is engaged in a review of the royal dockyards, and is about to begin a joint MOD — industry review of the efficiency of the MOD's procurement process. In addition to general advice which Mr. Levene provides to me on the efficient running of the Ministry of Defence, he is also engaged in a review of the services' holdings of stocks and spares, and the MOD's procedures for their reprovision.

Mr. Gordon Brown

asked the Secretary of State for Defence whether, in his review of procurement policy for defence weapons, Mr. P. J. Levene will be examining defence contracts, including those awarded to United Scientific Holdings Ltd. and members of the Defence Manufacturers Association.

Mr. Heseltine

Mr. Levene will examine the efficiency of the defence procurement process, in general terms. If, in the course of his review, he is required to study specific past or present development projects, Mr. Levene will avoid the examination of any cases where a potential conflict of interest might arise.

Mr. Gordon Brown

asked the Secretary of State for Defence whether, in his capacity as his personal adviser, Mr. P. J. Levene has access to commercial information regarded as confidential.

Mr. Heseltine

Mr. Levene has access to such information on a need to know basis, but in no case is he given access to information which would create a conflict of interest with his commercial activities.

Mr. Gordon Brown

asked the Secretary of State for Defence whether Mr. P. J. Levene has access to information about his Department's future procurement requirements.

Mr. Heseltine

Mr. Levene has access to the information necessary to carry out his task of advising me on current issues which affect the Ministry of Defence, subject to the overriding need to avoid a conflict of interest between his official and personal responsibilities.