HC Deb 13 November 2000 vol 356 cc453-4W
Mr. Key

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) if he will list for each of the past three years the military units which have used the DERA Porton Down NBC training facility, indicating how much each unit was charged; [136073]

(2) what the cost is to a customer of using the DERA Porton Down NBC training facility; and on what basis it is calculated. [136075]

Mr. Spellar

During the past three financial years, the following military units have used the NBC Training facility known as the Battle Run at DERA, Porton Down.

Financial year Military units
1997 7 Battalion Royal Electrical Mechanical Engineers (71 Aircraft Workshop) 1 Royal Anglian Regiment Joint Helicopter Support Unit 47 Regiment Royal Artillery 16 Regiment Royal Artillery
1998 Royal Wessex Yeomanry (Territorial Army) 243 Field Hospital Unit 10 Parachute Regiment
1999 Royal Wessex Yeomanry (Territorial Army) 16 Regiment Royal Artillery Royal Household Cavalry

The charge to customers for the use of the NBC Training Facility at DERA Porton Down, known as the Battle Run, comprises range maintenance and manpower operational costs as well as an element of profit as agreed between DERA and MOD in their Terms of Business Agreement (TOBA). The actual amount of usage and the associated cost are agreed on a yearly basis within an agreed limit of liability which is specified in the contract for use. The basis for the calculation of charges for each of the three years and the current year is the same apart from adjustments for inflation, the amounts of which are also agreed between MOD and DERA. The charges to HQ Land Command, the Ministry of Defence budget holder for these units, for each of the three years were £48,928, £42,118 and £51,715 respectively. Costs are not attributed to individual units. Costs include elements for facility maintenance and improvements to overall capability as well as the actual operational cost for the conduct of the Battle Run training.

Mr. Key

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence in each of the past three years on how many days the DERA Porton Down NBC training facility has been(a) available for use and (b) used for training. [136074]

Mr. Spellar

In each of the last three financial years the NBC training facility known as the Battle Run at DERA Porton Down was contracted by HQ Land Command to provide 20 days of training in blocks of two days. The take-up of the sessions was as follows:

Financial year Sessions
1997 Six two-day
1998 Four two-day
1999 One two-day and two four-day