SERCO Group Plc, Education Bradford's parent company, was formed out of the former RCA cinema group's UK subsidiary.

Older readers will remember the black and white image of the transmitter beaming out signals before the start of the film at the local 'fleapit'.

But it is youngsters who will now be feeling the company's influence as Education Bradford is now responsible for all state schooling across the Bradford district.

The involvement of private companies in what were previously perceived as purely public services is still a subject for debate, but it is Serco's other interests which could be a matter of concern for some parents.

Not to put too fine a point on it, providing education to four-year-olds upwards and helping to re-arm naval warships might not seem ethically compatible activities to some people.

But no such problem exists for Serco, which on its company web site says that it 'installed and commissioned the radar system' for RAF Fylingdales and 'We maintain buildings, test nuclear weapons, run railways, and much, much more'.

The company has other contracts with the UK Ministry of Defence, including operating boats re-supplying warships with ammunition, carrying out submarine trials and supporting amphibious operations.

Serco is also involved with contracts for the Australian Department of Defence (Navy), according to its web site.

RAF Fylingdales has long been a worry for some people because of its proposed inclusion in the US 'Son of Star Wars' missile defence system.

The argument is quite simple: Once the defence system is up and running, any country wishing to attack the US with nuclear missiles will first need to cripple its missile defence system, making RAF Fylingdales the first target of any nuclear strike.

Last week the Government announced that an upgrade of Fylingdales would put the facility at the heart of President George Bush's missile defence system.

According to the Serco web site 'RAF Fylingdales in Yorkshire is a cornerstone contract for Serco. Serco is the only contractor to have operated and maintained the facility despite repeated competitive re-tendering exercises.'

Because of the concerns thrown up by Serco's involvement in the defence industry, the Gazette asked the company whether it saw any problems in its role, particularly in the light of the threatened war against Iraq.

A company spokesman told us: "Serco Group plc is an international provider of management services to government and industry; it is not an arms company and it is also incorrect to suggest that the company is involved in the 'weapons business'.

"Serco is involved in a wide range of activities, from controlling satellites and operating computer networks for the European Space Agency, to managing and operating the Docklands Light Railway where it was recently voted National Rail Operator of the year for the second year running.

"The company provides support to the UK Government in its delivery of public services across all departments, including health, justice, transport, education and defence. The company employs 34,000 staff in more than 35 countries."

The roots of Serco's history reach back to 1929, when RCA set up a company to service the cinema industry in Britain. The company of today stems from as far back as 1964 when RCA Ltd, as it was then, was awarded a facilities management and engineering support contract for the Ballistic Missile Early Warning System (BMEWS) at RAF Fylingdales in Yorkshire.

"This was the foundation of Serco's current business as a service provider and that contract still operates today.

"It is the company's aim to achieve the highest standards of service, taking responsibility for specific requirements and so enabling our customers to focus on their core business activities.

"Governments across the world will call upon a large number of service providers to support their needs and they set demanding criteria to those companies wishing to work for them. It is not Serco's remit to set Government policy, whether it be in defence, education or any other sector, but the company is proud of its values lead, customer focused approach to providing the support required of it.

"Companies working for government, at both national and local level, are required not only to meet the exacting standards that are set by its customers but are regularly scrutinised and audited by a range of other agencies.

"Serco has, for example, recently satisfied the Pensions and Investments Research Consultants that it meets the criteria of its Socially Responsible Investment Service Profile. Serco has many years' experience in achieving high standards of service in the most challenging operational environments.

"Perhaps the best measure of our success is the long-term association we have enjoyed with our major customers and the extent to which we have helped to develop their business.

"This now also holds true for the Local Education Authorities in Bradford and Walsall where the local councils have, themselves, been satisfied that Serco is a company that can meet the requirements of the council and its constituents."