QinetiQ (Hansard, 15 October 2001)

§ Mr. Hancock
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what percentage of QinetiQ's research and development projects will be focused on(a) defence 951W technologies, (b) telecommunications, (c) health care and (d) non defence related technologies; and if he will make a statement. [7335]

§ Dr. Moonie
The Ministry of Defence research contracts currently account for 35 per cent. of QinetiQ's income. A further 44 per cent. of QinetiQ's income comes from other non-research work such as project support work for the Defence Procurement Agency and technical advice to the operational commands. The balance of QinetiQ's income is from non-MOD sources including commercial customers. It would not be in the commercial interests of the company, or the Government as future vendor, to release detailed financial information at this stage in the PPP process.

§ Mr. Hancock
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how much QinetiQ's new medium wave infra-red telescope cost to produce; and if he will make a statement. [7322]

§ Dr. Moonie
The medium-wave infra-red telescope is part of a Ministry of Defence research programme begun in the early 1990s designed to understand the phenomenology of aircraft infra-red signatures and investigate detector technologies. The telescope is owned by the MOD and operated by QinetiQ.
It is not our practice to release costs of individual research programmes as this may allow a detailed picture to be built up of the UK's defence research priorities and future defence capabilities. I am accordingly withholding the information requested under Exemption 1 of the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information relating to defence, security and international relations.

§ Mr. Hancock
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how much QinetiQ's new submarine research and technology centre cost to build; what alternative sites were explored; and if he will make a statement. [7341]

§ Dr. Moonie
The centre cost in the order of £462,000 to set up and was formed by co-locating existing research capabilities, facilities and equipment from QinetiQ laboratories at Winfrith and Bincleaves into one building on the Winfrith site. The figure does not include the past investment in equipment which has been co-located.
Several possible sites around the south coast area in Dorset were explored. The eventual decision reflected the most cost effective solution, and minimised disruption and inconvenience to staff.

§ Mr. Key
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if the US State Department has given its approval to amend the manufacturing licence for the UK Apache Attack Helicopter to enable QinetiQ to access US proprietary data. [5860]

§ Dr. Moonie
The US State Department gave its approval on 1 October 2001.