(2) what his Department’s criteria were that determined the winning bidders for (a) package 1 and (b) package 2 of the Defence Training Review Rationalisation Programme; and if he will make a statement.
Following a detailed evaluation process for each of the DTR Packages, Metrix were chosen because their separate package 1 and 2 proposals were judged to offer the best technical and prospective value for money solutions to the Defence Training Review requirement for each of those packages. Their solution examined against 65 individual Requirements of Response, represented the most economically advantageous outcome, providing the best combination of technical score relating to the quality, deliverability and timeliness of their proposals, their suitability as a partner and price.
The MOD estate is under continuous review to ensure that it is the right size and quality to support the delivery of Defence capability. Looking to the future both Cosford and Blandford are well placed as highly flexible Defence sites. The Department is looking at options to continue to make the best use of them post the defence training review by moving other units in. This will be subject to studies which will not conclude for some months.
Metrix current proposal for Package 1 does not exceed the planned budget over the life of the project. It delivers significant savings against the planned levels of expenditure. The current proposal for Package 2 has been assessed as not affordable and this package is now being pursued with Metrix as part of a whole programme solution. Until this work is complete it is not possible to judge whether Package 2 can be delivered within the planned budget for the programme.
The number of UK regular service personnel who died as a result of injuries sustained during training in each year between 2003 and 2006 is given in the following table:
Number of deaths 2003 6 2004 14 2005 11 2006 13 1 Data for 2006 are provisional.
During financial year 2003-04, some 350 training events featured on the Defence Exercise Programme (DXP) of which 151 (43 per cent). were cancelled. During financial year 2004-05, a total of 379 training events were scheduled of which 79 (20 per cent.) were cancelled. While specific reasons for cancellation are not available in many cases, and could be provided only at disproportionate cost, the programme was affected by competing operational priorities. Since that time, improved data capture has enabled a more detailed review of the DXP.
During financial year 2005-06, a total of 533 training events were scheduled on the DXP of which 58 (10.8 per cent.) were cancelled. In detail, 30 exercises were cancelled due to operational commitments, 13 were removed as savings measures and 10 were cancelled by other nations. The remaining five events were cancelled in response to changing priorities or rescheduling.
In financial year 2006-07, a total of 680 training events are scheduled in the DXP of which 60 (8.8 per cent.) have been, or will be, cancelled. In detail, 29 exercises have been cancelled due to operational commitments, five have been removed as savings measures and 15 were cancelled by other nations. The remaining 11 events have been cancelled in response to changing priorities or rescheduling.
Details of the military exercises cancelled since 1 April 2005 are as follows.
Exercise name Location Type Reason for cancellation Catt 05 UK Land Operational priorities Bass Rock Canada Land Cancelled by lead nation Pathfinder Czech Republic Land Cancelled by mutual consent: operational commitments Lone Kestrel 05 Poland Air Cancelled by lead nation Gruflex 05 Spain Air Cancelled by lead nation Fwit 05 Norway Air Cancelled by lead nation Air Warrior 05-10 px USA Air Cancelled by lead nation Smart Search 05 USA Air Cancelled by lead nation Lucky Sentinel 05 Canada Air Cancelled by lead nation Lone Osprey 05 Ukraine Air Cancelled due insufficient time to resolve Ukrainian requirements JTP 05-5 UK Air Operational commitments Cross Check 05 Canada Air Operational commitments Baltops 05 Baltic Air Operational commitments Trident Door 05 Mediterranean Air Operational commitments Wycombe Warrior 05-07 day 1 UK Air Operational commitments Wycombe Warrior 05-07 day 2 UK Air Operational commitments Cygnet Gold France Land Cancelled due to MOU issues Nomad 05 UK Air Cancelled due to withdrawal of three nations Snow Leopard 06 Norway Air Operational priorities Air Cadre 06-1 Cyprus Joint Revised priorities. Flycatcher 05-2 UK Joint Revised priorities. Red Corvette 06 UK Joint Revised priorities. Fidae 06 Chile Air Operational commitments; 1 Div CT5 ex Poland Land Operational commitments 3 Div CT5 ex UK Land Operational commitments Czech Pineapple Czech Republic Land Operational commitments Eagles Resolve UK Land Operational commitments Fingals Cave Canada Land Operational commitments Iron Anvil 05 Canada Air Operational commitments Joint Falcon 06 UK Air Operational commitments Kimmons Post Cyprus Land Operational commitments Kleiber France Land Operational commitments Medoc UK Land Operational commitments Quicksand 05 Africa Joint Operational commitments Snow Chute 06 Norway Air Operational commitments Swordfish 05 Mediterranean Air Operational commitments Templar Forge 05-1 Cyprus Air Operational commitments Templar Forge 05-2 Cyprus Air Operational commitments Templar Forge 05-3 Cyprus Air Operational commitments Aswex 05 UK Air Operational commitments Eagles Resolve—air UK Air Operational commitments Lemon Peel 05-2 UK Joint Operational commitments Target Flame 05-3 Cyprus Air Operational priorities (OPEVAL) Initial Link 05 Bahrain Air Rescheduled Eagles Flight 06 UK Air Rescheduled as Eagles Eye 06 Danex Denmark/North Sea Maritime Savings measure Druids Dance UK Land Savings measure Flotex Silver Norway Maritime Savings measure Lone Cheetah 05 France Air Savings measure Lone Civet 05 Europe General Air Savings measure Lone Eagle 05 Spain Air Savings measure Lone Egret 05 Slovakia Air Savings measure Lone Feat 05 Europe General Air Savings measure Lone Flap 05 Norway Air Savings measure Lone Kite 05 Europe General Air Savings measure Lone Knot 05 Europe General Air Savings measure Medicine Man BATUS Canada Land Savings measure Snow Goose 05-2 Norway Air Savings measure Anatolian Eagle 06 Europe Air Cancelled by host nation Dapex 06 Europe Air Cancelled by host nation Fingals Cave 06/07 Canada Land Cancelled by host nation Noble Avenger 06 Europe Air Cancelled by host nation Airlift Rodeo 06 North America Air Cancelled by lead nation Dragons Nest 06 Europe Air Cancelled by lead nation Lone Flap 06 Europe Air Cancelled by lead nation Triplex Flame 06.1 Europe Air Cancelled by lead nation Tunuk Warrior 06/07 Turkey Land Cancelled by lead nation Wycombe Warrior 09-06 days 1 and 2 United Kingdom Air Cancelled by NATO Cossack Steppe 06/07 Ukraine Land Cancelled due to insufficient time to resolve Ukrainian requirements. Express Three 06/07 (Russian Express 06) Russia Land Cancelled due to coordination issues with host nation Rainbow Serpent 06/07 Australia Land Ex reduced in scope due to Australian operational commitments 1 ACC WTI 06 North America Air Operational commitments AATTC 06-1 North America Air Operational commitments Albert's Rapport 06-1 North America Air Operational commitments Albert's Rapport 06-2 North America Air Operational commitments Algonquin Rock 06-1 North America Air Operational commitments Assegai Eyes 06 United Kingdom Joint Operational commitments Barbary Air 06-2 Europe Air Operational commitments Blue Cypriot Cyprus Land Operational commitments Cockfight 2/06 UK Joint Operational commitments Combined Strength 06-1 Europe Air Operational commitments Czech Pineapple 06 Czech Rep Land Operational commitments Eagles Eye 06/07 UK Land Operational commitments Etam06 Europe Air Operational commitments Flying Rapport 06 North America Air Operational commitments Fwit 06 Europe Air Operational commitments Gaulish 1 - 06/07 France/UK Land Operational commitments Gaulish 2/06 Not Specified Land Operational commitments Gaulish 5—06/07 France/UK Land Operational commitments Global Gold 07/08 Kenya Land Operational commitments JRTC 06-1 North America Air Operational commitments JTP 2 - 06/07 UK Land Operational commitments Lone Foil Europe Air Operational commitments LRIF06-1 North America Air Operational commitments Maple Flag 39-3 North America Air Operational commitments Night Hawk 2/06 Denmark Joint Operational commitments Paper Chase 06/07 Germany Land Operational commitments Path Finder 06/07 Czech Rep Land Operational commitments Prairie Brave 06/07 Canada Land Operational commitments Readiness Challenge 06/07 USA Land Cancelled by Lead Nation Solenzara Air Ex 06 Europe Air Operational commitments Lone Knot 06 Europe Air Postponed by lead nation Aphrodite 06/07 Cyprus Land Revised priorities Cyprus Forum 06 Cyprus Joint Revised priorities Frozen Star 07 Norway Air Revised priorities Heavy Ferry 06/07 Germany Land Revised priorities Javelin 06/07 Nepal Land Revised priorities Log provider 06 United Kingdom Joint Revised priorities Lone Fin 07 Europe Air Revised priorities Snow Falcon 07-1 Europe Air Revised priorities Spontex 06-1 Europe Air Revised priorities Target Flame 06-3 Europe Air Revised priorities Wet Gap 06/07 Germany Land Revised priorities Grand Prix 1—06/07 Kenya Land Savings measure Grand Prix 3—06/07 Kenya Land Savings measure Jagged Flame 06-1 Europe Air Savings measure Lion Star 1—07/08 Cyprus Land Savings measure Rock Challenge USA Joint Savings measure
Of the 547 training exercises recorded in the Defence Exercise Programme for financial year 2007-08, 40 (7.5 per cent.) have been cancelled.