HL Deb 20 January 2005 vol 668 cc123-4WA
Lord Astor of Hever

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What steps the Defence Logistics Organisation is taking to utilise radio frequency identification technology to track containers and their contents distributed in support of military deployments. [HL690]

The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Ministry of Defence (Lord Bach)

The Ministry of Defence (MoD) is currently utilising radio frequency identification (RFiD) technology to track containers and aircraft loads in support of military deployments. The system used is an American system known as total asset visibility or TAV; a system also used by the United States military. TAV was procured during Op TELIC and led to real improvements in the MoD's ability to track consignments. The system currently consists of a network of over 120 fixed readers located at key nodes within the defence supply chain. Coverage includes the United Kingdom, Germany, Iraq, Afghanistan, Cyprus and Canada. The system is fully interoperable with the United States military's consignment tracking system and this effectively gives the UK access to the US system of readers around the world. Additionally, the MoD also procured mobile readers known as early entry deployable support kits which are used to provide temporary coverage before fixed readers can be installed. The MoD continues to keep abreast of developments and intends to evaluate RFiD's further potential use within defence.