§ Mr. JenkinTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence what representations he has received regarding the(a) Defence Intelligence and Security Centre defence agency review of training of armed forces and (b) other intelligence agencies; and if he will make a statement. [11453]
§ Mr. Ingram[holding answer 30 October 2001]: The Defence Intelligence and Security Centre (DISC) is not conducting a review of training, but is undergoing a Quinquennial Review (QQR) of its agency status, part of which will involve an analysis of current and future training activity. This review was announced on 20 July 2001, Official Report, column 710W. Comments were requested by 15 September 2001 and to date we have received one representation. The review is due to be complete by February 2002.
661WSeparately, the report of the Defence Training Review, announced to the House by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Defence on 27 March 2001, Official Report, column 545W, included a proposal to collocate security training, language training and possible joint photographic training. On 19 July, I announced that the DISC was being examined as the Ministry of Defence's benchmark site for security, intelligence, language and photography training, Official Report, column 334W.
The only other intelligence agency within the MOD is the Defence Geographic and Imagery Intelligence Agency (DGIA), which was launched on 1 April 2000, formed from the merger of two defence intelligence agencies, the Joint Air Reconnaissance Intelligence Centre (JARIC) and Military Survey. The DGIA provides imagery intelligence and geographic support to defence policy, planning, operations and training.