Defence Costs Study (Hansard, 23 March 1994)

§ Dr. David Clark
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his answer of 14 January,Official Report, columns 342–43, how many progress reports have been produced by the defence costs study teams; and if he will make a statement.

§ Mr. Aitken
I have seen a total of 43 such reports to date.

§ Dr. David Clark
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) whether there will be any change to front-line capabilities resulting from the defence costs study; and if he will make a statement;
(2) what criteria will be used to assess the impact of the defence costs study on front-line capabilities; and if he will make a statement;
(3) which MoD personnel will be involved in assessing the impact of the defence costs study on front-line capabilities; and if he will make a statement.

§ Mr. Aitken
The aim of the defence costs study is to safeguard our front-line operational capability. All proposals emerging from the study will be assessed with this criteria in mind, drawing on the advice of the appropriate personnel, in the MOD and the services.

§ Dr. David Clark
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) what detailed proposals to make radical changes in procurement policies and practices have been considered as part of the defence costs study; and if he will make a statement;
(2) what detailed proposals to achieve reductions in the costs of his Departments' estate and property have been considered as part of the defence costs study; and if he will make a statement;
(3) what detailed proposals for reducing the costs of third and fourth-line repair have been considered as part of the defence costs study; and if he will make a statement.

§ Mr. Aitken
Separate study teams have been established to examine each of these areas in detail. They have yet to report, but are considering a range of proposals relevant to their respective remits. Decisions on their final recommendations will be announced in due course.

§ Dr. David Clark
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment he has made as to whether it is possible to achieve a significant reduction in the costs associated with spares, procurement and stock holding without having any impact on front-line capabilities; and if he will make a statement.
338W

§ Mr. Aitken
We shall make an assessment of this when we have received the final reports from the relevant defence costs study teams.

§ Dr. David Clark
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what plans he has to include examination of(a) Army support infrastructure, and (b) Air Force support infrastructure as part of the defence costs study; and if he will make a statement.

§ Mr. Aitken
Both areas are being examined within the scope of existing studies.

§ Dr. David Clark
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether the review of the programme for market testing and contracting out has been completed; and if he will make a statement.

§ Mr. Aitken
Work is continuing in this area as part of the defence costs study.