Agency Newsletters (Hansard, 30 July 1998)

§ Mr. Spellar

Where these matters fall to the Chief Executives of the Agencies concerned. I have asked them to write direct to the hon. Member.

The Defence Intelligence Staff publishes three staff newsletters. "The Mole" is published monthly for its Headquarters staff in London, at a Restricted security classification, and was first produced in July 1997. "Compass" is published monthly for the staff of the Military Survey Agency, is unclassified, and was first produced in June 1996. "Lynx" is published quarterly for the staff of the Joint Air Reconnaissance Intelligence Centre, is unclassified, and was first published in Autumn 1996.

Letter from John Chadwick to Mr. Matthew Taylor, dated 30 July 1998: I am replying to your Question to the Secretary of State for Defence about the newsletters produced for the staff of the Naval Recruiting and Training Agency (NRTA) in my capacity as Chief Executive of the NRTA. I have to advise you that no regular newsletter is currently produced for the staff of my Agency.

Letter from Major General C. G. Callow to Mr. Matthew Taylor, dated 30 July 1998:

AGENCY NEWSLETTERS 1. I am replying to your letter to the Secretary of State for Defence about Agency Newsletters as this matter, in respect of my Agency, falls within my area of responsibility as Chief Executive of the Defence Secondary Care Agency (DSCA). 2. The DSCA staff magazine is an unclassified publication that is published quarterly. It was first produced in a limited format in December 1995 for those staff already working in the Defence Medical Services who were to become part of the DSCA when it launched in April 1996.

Letter from Peter Ewins to Mr. Matthew Taylor dated 30 July 1998: I am replying to your Question to the Secretary of State for Defence regarding what are the current security classifications of the newsletters produced for the staff of the Meteorological Office; how often each newsletter is produced; and when each newsletter was first produced. The information you require is as follows:

Name	Classification	How often	First Produced
Mercury	Unclassified	11 per year	November 1985
Comet	Unclassified	Weekly	January

Mercury contains articles, information and letters covering a wide range of topics of interest to our staff. Comet brings together our administrative instructions plus staff items such as Job Opportunities within The Met. Office and other government departments.

Letter from B. E. Nimick to Mr. Matthew Taylor, dated 30 July 1998: I am replying to your Question to the Secretary of State for Defence about the Medical Supplies Agency newsletters, as this matter falls within my area of responsibility as Chief Executive of the Medical Supplies Agency. Within the Agency there are two types of newsletter. The first is intended for distribution to all regular customers of the Medical Supplies Agency. This Newsletter is used to inform customers about our procedures, supply problems and general information relating to medical supply. 457W The second type of newsletter is a Core Brief. This is distributed to managers at the Agency Headquarters and Agency Distribution Centres, for dissemination to all staff. The Core Brief informs all Agency staff of future plans, target and progress. The current security classification of the Newsletter and Core Brief is unclassified. Our Newsletter is produced approximately every four months with the first issue being made in May 1997. The Core Brief is produced once every two to three months with the first issue being produced in November 1996.