§ Mr. HancockTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many people are currently employed by the Medical Supply Agency; what was the figure at its inception; on what date the Medical Supply Agency published its report for 1997–98; and what was the cost of production of the report. [76889]
§ Mr. Doug HendersonThis is a matter for the Chief Executive of the Medical Supplies Agency. I have asked the Chief Executive to write to the hon. Member.
865WLetter from B. E. Nimick to Mr. Mike Hancock, dated 19 March 1999:
I am replying to your question to the Secretary of State for Defence about the Medical Supplies Agency's manning and Annual Report as these matters fall within my area of responsibility as Chief Executive of the Medical Supplies Agency.As at 12 March 1999 there were 354 employees funded by the Medical Supplies Agency. This Agency was formed in March 1996 and the total number of persons in post at 1 April 1996 was 301. Prior to its launch, the combined establishments of organisations that later formed the Medical Supplies Agency totalled 403. The reduction from 403 to 301 was achieved by means such as the removal of much of the military management, the closure of units in Germany and Hong Kong and the loss of a blood collection team. A Military/Civilian breakdown of these figures is shown below:
Period Military Civilian Total Pre-Agency 138 265 403 1 April 96 61 240 301 12 March 99 40 314 354 A draft copy of the Medical Supplies Agency's Annual Report and Accounts for 1997/98 was circulated to members of the Surgeon General Owners' Review Board on 23 June 1998 and the final version was published on 19 January 1999. The report was written in-house by existing staff. It was designed using Ministry of Defence facilities, without incurring hard charges, and was printed at a cost of £1,204.