§ Mr. ColvinTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on his future plans for the Defence Evaluation and Research Agency. [77903]
§ Mr. SpellarMy noble Friend the Minister for Defence Procurement is expecting initial advice from a team studying the Public Private Partnership options for the Defence Evaluation and Research Agency at the end of this month. Following a period of discussion and consultation, Ministers would hope to make a decision and an announcement about the future of DERA later this year.
§ Mr. ColvinTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence how much of the turnover of the Defence Evaluation and Research Agency is civil. [77059]
§ Mr. SpellarThis is a matter for the Chief Executive of the Defence Evaluation and Research Agency. I have asked the Chief Executive to write to the hon. Member.
Letter from John Chisholm to Mr. Michael Colvin, dated 25 March 1999:
I have been asked to reply to your question to the Secretary of State for Defence about the turnover of the Defence Evaluation and Research Agency (DERA) in view of my responsibilities as Chief Executive.The turnover of DERA for the financial year 1997/98 can be broken down into a number of constituent parts. Total income, as stated in our last Annual Report and Accounts, was £1006.3 million, of which £105.7 million came from non-Ministry of Defence sources. Defence related activities for either UK industry or foreign customers accounted for £38 million of this figure. Of the remaining £67.7 million which came from civil markets, £27.8 million was from British Government Departments other than the Ministry of Defence.I hope this is helpful.