§ Patrick MercerTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the cost was of Ministry of Defence(a) head office and (b) other management costs in (i) 1997 and (ii) in the last 12 months; and what the difference was expressed in percentage terms. [88367]
§ Dr. MoonieTaken together, the total cost of the Ministry of Defence head office and the other high-level management costs within the Ministry of Defence in the last financial year (2001–02) has been broadly estimated to be around £0.7 billion, although work is currently in hand to produce a more refined figure. The head office element of this figure (based on personnel costs) is around £140 million. The MOD has a target to achieve a 13 per cent. reduction in the overall head office and other management costs by 31 March 2006.
Comparative figures for head office and management costs for 1997 are not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
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