HC Deb 01 December 1994 vol 250 c897W
Mr. Fatchett

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list(a) the value, (b) the source of finance and (c) the work carried out over the last five years by the Defence Research Agency for the Government of Indonesia.

Mr. Freeman

Responsibility for such matters rests with the chief executive of the Defence Research Agency. I have therefore asked him to reply.

Letter from John Chisholm to Mr. Derek Fatchett, dated 1 December 1994: In today's written answer the Minister of State for Defence Procurement informed you that I would be replying to your question concerning work carried out by the Defence Research Agency for the government of Indonesia over the last five years. The Defence Research Agency was established in April 1991 by bringing together the Royal Aerospace Establishment, Royal Armament Research and Development Establishment, Royal Signals and Radar Establishment and the Admiralty Research Establishment. Since that date the DRA has undertaken no work for the government of Indonesia Complete records are not available for the period prior to April 1991, but a check of those that are still held has not come up with any instances of work being carried out for the government of Indonesia during the two years in question.

Mr. Fisher

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence on which dates the Chief of the Defence Staff and the Vice-Chief of the Defence Staff visited Indonesia last year; at whose invitation and at whose expense.

Mr. Soames

Neither the Chief of Defence Staff nor the Vice-Chief of the Defence Staff visited Indonesia in 1993. The Chief of Defence Staff visited Indonesia from 8 to 12 October 1994. The Vice-Chief of the Defence Staff visited Indonesia from 27 February to 2 March 1994. Both visits were at the invitation of their Indonesia counterparts. Travel costs arising from both visits were met by my Department; accommodation was provided by the hosts.