HL Deb 03 December 2001 vol 629 cc85-6WA
Lord Carlile of Berriew

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether they have any proposals to shorten the delay in providing new entrants to the Royal Naval College at Dartmouth with the full range of equipment desirable for them to perform their duties fully. [HL1515]

Lord Bach

There are concerns about the shortages of uniform clothing for young officer entrants to the Britannia Royal Naval College at Dartmouth. The shortage of items are: the tricorn hats worn by female officers, oversize (size 13 +) shoes, berets, caps and cap badges.

Uniform items are procured through the Defence Textiles and Clothing (Integrated Project Team (DCT (IPT)) which is dependent on sole suppliers for certain items, especially the more traditional ones.

Alternative methods of fulfilling the requirements placed upon the DCT (IPT) have been explored and, to that end, three contracts have been put in place to meet the demands for cap badges. A contract to supply outsize shoes will start to deliver in January 2002, in time for the January intake of new entrants and suppliers are now meeting the demand for tricorn hats, caps and berets.