§ John McDonnellTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) what the process is for the security clearance of(a) agency and (b) other staff working for TNT at the Departmental Records Office at Bourne Avenue, Hayes; [173656]
(2) how many staff including agency staff employed by TNT at the Departmental Records Office, Bourne Avenue, Hayes have sought security clearance; at what level they have been security cleared; how many have had clearance declined; and what the average length of time taken to obtain security clearance has been. [173657]
§ Mr. CaplinAgency staff and staff employed by TNT at the Departmental Records Office are subject to the processes for security clearance in accordance with the Government's vetting policy as announced to the House on 15 December 1994,Official Report, columns 764–66W. Personnel are normally to hold a Security Check (SC) clearance, but individuals with a Basic Check (BC) may be employed provided they are escorted and supervised at all times by a member of staff who is SC cleared.
As at 13 May 2004, 272 TNT Records Office staff had completed the security clearance processes. 188 held an SC clearance and 84 held a BC. Two of the SC clearances were subject to restrictions. One individual had had a clearance at the SC level declined.
The average length of time to complete a BC is two weeks, and for an SC clearance 12 weeks.
§ John McDonnellTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many complaints have been lodged against the performance of TNT in its handling of records based at the Hayes Departmental Records Office at Bourne Avenue, Hayes. [173658]
§ Mr. CaplinThe Ministry of Defence has set-up a Contract Management Team (CMT) whose role it is to monitor the services provided by TNT to all the Departments involved. Between 18 December 2003 and 13 May 2004 the CMT was advised of 46 mostly minor complaints about the performance of TNT. This number of complaints is regarded as very small.