§ Laura MoffattTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the future of the Defence Clothing and Textiles Agency. [133927]
§ Mr. SpellarThe introduction of the SMART Procurement Initiative (SPI) and the formation of Integrated Project Teams (IPTs) across the Ministry of Defence has changed the strategic conduct of the Ministry of Defence's procurement business. We have decided that the Agency in its current form is not consistent with the far-reaching changes demanded by SPI. Accordingly DCTA is to be reorganised along IPT lines and will cease to be a Defence Agency on 1 October 2000. The Planned collocation of staff at the Caversfield site will continue and should be completed in March 2001.
The organisation is to become part of the Director General Equipment Support (Land) Business Unit within the Defence Logistics Organisation (DLO). A Transition 910W Team Leader has been appointed to direct the transition to the new structure with implementation to be completed by 31 March 2001.
In place of Key Targets, IPTs are expected to deliver a high level of performance against hard and stretch targets. The planned adoption of a balanced set of performance measures and targets (known as the Balanced Scorecard) across the organisation will ensure that a challenging performance regime remains in place.
Clothing products are of fundamental importance to our Armed Forces and this reorganisation in line with SPI principles will ensure that Service personnel continue to receive products of the highest standards.