HC Deb 26 February 2002 vol 380 cc1137-8W
Mr. Patrick Hall

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement about the Skynet 5 programme. [38468]

Dr. Moonie

I am delighted to announce that Paradigm has today been selected as the preferred bidder for the Skynet 5 project. This is the largest Ministry of Defence Private Finance Initiative project to have reached the preferred bidder stage, and will deliver the next generation of satellite communications services for Britain's armed forces. The Skynet 5 solution will be based on a constellation of at least two satellites, which will be owned and operated by Paradigm. We expect to place a contract with Paradigm later this year, with an initial service being provided from 2005. In preparation for this, Paradigm will take over responsibility in 2003 for the existing Skynet 4 capability. The PFI approach offers significantly better value for money when compared to

Officers Other Ranks
Type I1 II III IV V Total D1 C B A Total Grand Total
UK Mainland 69 370 1,920 3,949 5,119 11,427 3,640 25,530 13,897 — 43,067 54,494
Northern Ireland 1 20 69 124 207 421 207 1,751 851 14 2,823 3,244
Gibraltar 0 4 13 54 67 138 0 195 227 39 461 599
Falkland Island2 — — — — — — — — — — — 36
Germany3 7 11 514 1,223 990 2,745 805 571 4,777 78 6,231 8,976
Cyprus3 1 4 67 172 256 500 40 203 653 — 896 1,396
Belize — — — 3 4 7 — 14 — — 14 21
Brunei2,3 — — — — — 24 — — — — 425 449
Canada3 — — 1 1 1 3 9 65 57 — 131 134
Total 9 39 664 1,577 1,525 3,838 1,061 2,799 6,565 131 10,981 14,855
1 Largest
2 Not assessed by type
3 Includes hirings

Mr. Swayne

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how much expenditure earmarked for single living accommodation maintenance was diverted to high priority items in the last financial year. [36823]

Dr. Moonie

Responsibility for the allocation of maintenance expenditure is delegated to top level budget holders, though they are guided by the high priority we attach to improving single living accommodation, as announced by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Defence in March last year. The nature of property maintenance expenditure means that it is difficult in practice to attribute it precisely between single living accommodation and other areas. This information could therefore be provided only at disproportionate cost.

the whole life costs of a conventional acquisition. The Skynet 5 project will provide UK industry with valuable high technology work, and we expect that around 1,500 jobs will be created or sustained.