RAF Support Command (Hansard, 16 December 1993)

§ Dr. David Clark
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what measures are used by the RAF Support Command maintenance group to assess efficiency savings.

§ Mr. Hanley
The RAF Support Command maintenance group efficiency programme is based on the detailed reporting of efficiency performance against annual targets set by the Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief of RAF Support Command, the agency's owner. Efficiency savings from all the stations and units within the maintenance group are rigorously pursued, and reported upon at mid-year and end-of-year financial reporting points. In addition, the maintenance group financial staff have pursued the efficiency savings generated by the group on behalf of other areas within the Ministry of Defence. Significant efficiency savings have also been programmed into each of the annual costing exercises.

§ Dr. David Clark
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will publish the prototype financial and management accounting systems installed by RAF Support command maintenance group at RAF St. Athan and at its headquarters.

§ Mr. Hanley
The financial and management accounting system installed by the maintenance group at RAF St. Athan and the headquarters to meet Her Majesty's Treasury's draft accounts direction is a commercial package known as FW-Agresso. It is marketed by Fraser-Williams (East Midlands) Ltd.

§ Dr. David Clark
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the pursuit of a total quality approach to management within RAF Support Command maintenance group.

§ Mr. Hanley
To date four stations have adopted the total quality approach within the RAF support maintenance group.

§ Dr. David Clark
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will provide detailed descriptions of all of the formal quality systems that have been installed by RAF Support Command maintenance group since its formation; and if he will make a statement.

§ Mr. Hanley
The RAF Support Command maintenance group adopted assessment and certification against recognised quality systems nine years ago. A succession of standards have been used: defence standard 05-21; the NATO allied quality assurance publications; and in recent times the International Standards Organisation 9000 series.