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NATO
Mr. Cohen: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list (a) his Department's total expenditure and (b) the average defence expenditure of other European members of NATO in each of the last financial years, expressed in 1995-96 prices. [32072]
Mr. Soames: Information provided to NATO by member states gives the following comparison, at 1990 $US prices and exchange rates, between UK defence spending and the average among the other European members of the alliance:
| UK ($ million) | European average ($ million) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1991 | 39,790 | 11,869 |
| 1992 | 35,473 | 11,535 |
| 1993 | 34,292 | 11,198 |
| 1994 | 32,622 | 10,909 |
| 1995 | 30,710 | 10,640 |
Armed Forces (Deaths)
Dr. David Clark: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his answer of 16 May, Official Report, column 559, how many people in the armed forces who served in the Gulf war have died since January 1991. [31788]
Mr. Soames [holding reply 10 June 1996]: Since January 1991 the total number of personnel who served in the Gulf war and subsequently died, while still serving in the armed forces, is 84.
Recruitment
Mr. Donohoe: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how much his Department spent in recruiting staff to his Department and its executive agencies during the 1994-95 and 1995-96 financial years; and how many staff were recruited in each of these years. [31397]
Mr. Arbuthnot: This information is not held centrally within my Department or within some of its agencies, and could be provided only at disproportionate cost. Where this matter falls to chief executives of my Department's agencies and the information is readily available, I have asked them to write direct to the hon. Member.
12 Jun 1996 : Column: 206
Letter from John Chisholm to Mr. Brian Donohoe, dated 11 June 1996:
4. As regards your question about executive search agencies or employment companies, (1498H) I can tell you that the Hydrographic Office did not use any executive search agency or employment company in filling any vacancies that arose during 1994/95 or 1995/96.
I hope the above information has been helpful.
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12 Jun 1996 : Column: 209
I hope that this is helpful.
Letter from S. Parnell to Mr. Brian Donohoe, dated 11 June 1996:
You recently asked the Secretary of State for Defence for details of numbers of staff recruited, and associated costs, for the years 1994-95 and 1995-96 for his Department and its Agencies. I am replying on behalf of the Defence Evaluation and Research Agency (DERA).
Recruitment is only one aspect of personnel work and it is not our practice to allocate specific staff and related costs solely to this activity. Major, and clearly identifiable, costs are those associated with recruitment advertising, promotional and marketing material and recruitment literature. These identifiable costs are as follows:
1994-95: £0.9 million
1995-96: £1.4 million
The number of staff recruited in each of these years is as follows:
1994-95: 631
1995-96: 1,046
As a result of consolidation within the MOD this Agency became about 50% larger in 1995-96 compared with 1994-95, which is the principal reason for the increased activity.
I hope this is helpful.
Letter from J. C. R. Hunt to Mr. Brian Donohoe, dated 11 June 1996:
1. You recently asked the Secretary of State for Defence two Parliamentary Questions concerning the use of executive search agencies and recruitment costs within Agencies of the Ministry of Defence. The matters you raise fall within the responsibilities delegated to the Chief Executive of the Hydrographic Defence Agency, Rear Admiral J. P. Clarke. In the normal course of events Admiral Clarke would reply to you personally but unfortunately he is at present on official duty overseas so I have been asked to reply to you on his behalf.
2. As the two questions you asked relate to similar issues I hope you will not object if I reply to them both in this letter.
3. Turning first to your question about recruitment costs (1497H) the information you require, concerning the Hydrographic Office, can be summarised as follows:
Year Number recruited Cost £
1994-95 15 1,269
1995-96 66 21,681
Letter from Brigadier T. McG. Brown to Mr. Brian Donohoe, dated 11 June 1996:
The Meteorological Office is an Executive Agency of the Ministry of Defence. As Chief Executive I am responding to your question regarding recruitment.
In the financial year 1994-95 we recruited 42 staff at a cost of £71,036.
In the financial year 1995-96 we recruited 65 staff at the cost of £119,393.
I hope this gives you the information you need.
I am replying to your Parliamentary Question to the Secretary of State for Defence, the Rt Hon Michael Portillo MP, regarding the cost of recruiting staff and the number of staff recruited in 1994/95 and 1995/96 within the MoD and its associated agencies.
As Chief Executive, this matter falls within my area of responsibility for the Defence Postal and Courier Services Agency.
Letter from W. E. Spreadbury to Mr. Brian Donohoe, dated 11 June 1996:
During 1994/95 and 1995/96 the Agency employed five staff to manage the personnel function for in excess of 300 civilian staff, and part of their function is to oversee recruitment. However, other than the £7,600 spent advertising for staff, the cost of the recruitment component is not separately identified. In 1994/95 and 1995/96 we recruited 55 and 122 staff respectively, excluding those we assumed responsibility for as a result of MoD reorganisations. We are not responsible for recruiting military staff who are recruited by the Army's centralised recruitment function.
I hope this information is helpful.
Letter from Brigadier K. J. W. Good to Mr. Brian Donohoe, dated 11 June 1996:
I am replying to your Question to the Secretary of State for Defence (about recruitment of staff) on behalf of the Chief Executive of the Duke of York's Royal Military School who is absent on duty as this matter falls within his area of responsibility.
During the financial years 1994-95 and 1995-96 my Agency spent £1775 and £1847 respectively on recruiting staff. The numbers of staff recruited in these two years were 7 and 13 respectively.
Letter from I. S. Mitchelson to Mr. Brian Donohoe, dated 11 June 1996:
I am replying to your Question to the Secretary of State for Defence regarding how much my agency has spent in recruiting staff during the 1994/95 and 1995/96 financial years; and how many staff were recruited in each of these years.
My response, therefore, is as follows:
Total spend on recruitment 1994/95: £86,775
Total spend on recruitment 1995/96: £89,625
Total number of staff recruited 1994/95: 358
Total number of staff recruited 1995/96: 427
I trust this fully answers your question.
Letter from Paul A. Altobell to Mr. Brian Donohoe, dated 11 June 1996:
I am replying to your question to the Secretary of State for Defence relating to recruitment within this Agency during 1994/95 and 1995/96, as this matter falls within my area of responsibility as Chief Executive of Service Children's Education, (SCE).
Almost all Service Children's Education staff are recruited in the UK for service overseas or recruited locally in overseas locations. During the 1994/95 Financial Year SCE's predecessor Agency, Service Children's Schools (North West Europe), recruited 353 locally entered staff. Advertising for these types of staff was through existing service sources at negligible additional associated cost, which was not separately recorded. No associated travel and subsistence costs, nor fees for interview board members was incurred. The Agency only assumed responsibility for recruitment of locally entered staff in July 1994 and figures are not available prior to this. Additionally during 1994/95 10 UK Based staff were recruited at a cost of £20,770, inclusive of advertising costs, board members fees and candidates travel and subsistence costs.
In the 1995/96 Financial Year, the Agency recruited 1,044 locally entered staff, almost all part-time. Twenty-two UK Based staff were recruited during the same period at a cost of £44,874. In addition to the costs at 1994/95, this figure includes the hiring of regional venues for the interviews.
I am replying to your question to the Secretary of State for Defence about expenditure on recruiting staff as this matter falls within my area of responsibility as Chief Executive of the Defence Analytical Services Agency.
DASA has spent the following on the recruitment of staff:
1994/95: £0
1995/96: £2,752.35
In addition to those staff recruited for us by our parent Department (MoD) my Agency has directly recruited the following:
Letter from Colonel A. H. Roache to Mr. Brian Donohoe, dated 11 June 1996:
Number of staff
1994/95: 0
1995/96: 11
Letter from Air Commodore P. C. Ayee to Mr. Brian Donohoe, dated 11 June:
As Chief Executive of the Defence Animal Centre (DAC) I am replying to your Question to the Secretary of State for Defence regarding how much the DAC spent in recruiting staff during the 1994-95 and 1995-96 financial years and how many staff were recruited in each of these years.
Staff are recruited through the mediums of the Area Civilian Staff Manager and the Job Centre and the use of these organisations is at no cost to the DAC.
During the financial year 1994-95, 10 staff were recruited and 36 were recruited during 1995-96.
Letter from Captain W. S. Graham to Mr. Brian Donohoe, dated 11 June 1996:
I am replying to your question to the Secretary of State for Defence, asking how much his Department spent in recruiting staff to his Department and its executive agencies during the 1994-95 and 1995-95 financial years; and how many staff were recruited in each of these years as this matter falls within my responsibility as Chief Executive of the Royal Air Force Signals Engineering Establishment.
From its launch as an executive agency on 22 Nov 94 until the end of financial year 1994-95 my agency recruited 45 staff through the Department at no direct cost to the Agency. In financial year 1995-96 we recruited 51 staff at a direct cost of £2,652.
Letter from W. E. E. Boreham to Mr. Brian Donohoe, dated 11 June 1996:
1. I am replying to your Question to the Secretary of State for Defence, that asked how much was spent in the 'Naval Aircraft Repair Organisation (NARO)' in recruiting staff during 1994-95 and 1995-96 financial years, and how many staff were recruited in each of these years, as the matter falls within my area of responsibility as Chief Executive of the NARO.
2. The figures are as follows:
94/96: 63 £19,112
95/96: 80 £20,606
Letters from N. J. Pearson to Mr. Brian Donohoe, dated 11 June 1996:
I am replying to your Question to the Secretary of State for Defence about recruitment, as this falls into my area of responsibility as Chief Constables/Chief Executive of the Ministry of Defence Police Agency.
I recruited 32 police officers and no civilians in 1994-95, and no police officers but 12 civilian staff, for employment at MDP Wethersfield, in 1995-96. I spent £6,192 on police recruitment advertising during financial year 1994-95 and £10,040 in 1995-96. Recruitment is conducted in-house by my Personnel Department as part of its wider duties, and the staff costs associated with recruitment are not separately identified.
I am replying to your Question to the Secretary of State for Defence about the cost of recruiting staff and the number of staff recruited as this matters falls within my area of responsibility as Chief Executive of the Joint Air Reconnaissance Intelligence Centre (JARIC) Defence Agency. The Agency, which formed on 19 April 1996, continues to use the Department's centralized resources for its Service and civilian recruitment needs. Information on staff recruitment costs could only be provided at disproportionate costs. Since personnel are recruited to meet central requirements and not exclusively to fill JARIC's needs. The numbers of civilian staff externally recruited to meet JARIC's vacancies for financial years 1994-95 and 1995-96 were 14 and 16 respectively.
Letter from Brigadier J. R. Drew to Mr. Brian Donohoe, dated 11 June 1996:
Letter from Brian Raine to Mr. Brian Donohoe, dated 11 June 1996:
I am replying to your Question to the Secretary of State for Defence about how much was spent by Defence Agencies on recruitment in 1994/95 and 1995/96 and how many staff were recruited, as this matter falls within my area of responsibility as Chief Executive of the Army Base Repair Organisation (ABRO).
It is not possible to provide information about the full cost to ABRO of recruitment in these years as the systems are not yet available to provide this without disproportionate cost and effort. I can however advise that the number of staff recruited and the amount spent on recruitment advertising for the most recent full financial years was:
1994-95 1995-96
Number of staff 243 533
Cost of advertising £7,618 £30,027
Mr. Donohoe:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what use his Department and its executive agencies have made of executive search agencies or employment companies in filling vacancies within his Department or executive agencies administered by his Department during the financial years 1994-95 and 1995-96; what agencies were employed; what was the cost in each case; how many staff were recruited in each case; and what was the total cost in each financial year of these contracts. [31412]
I am replying to your Question to the Secretary of State for Defence, on how much his Department spent in recruiting staff to his Department and its executive agencies during the 1994-95 and 1995-96 financial year; and how many staff were recruited in each of these years.
Cost of Advertising
1994/95: £9,843.13
1995/96: £9,385.53
Numbers recruited
1994/95: 8
1995/96: 5
If you have any further questions about this reply please do not hesitate to contact me.
Mr. Arbuthnot: The Department and its executive agencies have engaged the services of executive search agencies and employment companies for recruitment to senior appointments such as chief executives of defence agencies.
1994-95
Saxton Bampfylde International plc: 1 post
Norman Broadbent Selection (NBS): 1 post
Total cost for year £72,000
1995-96
Norman Broadbent Selection (NBS): 1 post
Recruitment and Assessment Services (RAS): 8 posts
Total cost for year £134,853
The figures quoted include value added tax but not the costs of advertising. The individual fees for the companies are commercially confidential.
12 Jun 1996 : Column: 210
Where responsibility for these matters falls to the chief executives of my Department's agencies under the terms of their framework documents and they have exercised that responsibility, I have asked the chief executives to write to the hon. Member.
Letter from Brigadier J. R. Drew to Mr. Brian Donohoe, dated 11 June 1996:
The individual fees for companies are not given as they are commercially confidential.
I cannot give the amounts paid to each of these companies individually as this information is commercial in confidence. The total amount paid in 1994-95 was £54,400 and the figure for 1995-96 was £86,900.
I hope this is helpful.
12 Jun 1996 : Column: 211
4. As regards your question about executive search agencies or employment companies, (1498H) I can tell you that the Hydrographic Office did not use any executive search agency or employment company in filling any vacancies that arose during 1994/95 or 1995/96.
I hope the above information has been helpful.
12 Jun 1996 : Column: 212
12 Jun 1996 : Column: 213
Mr. Arbuthnot:
The recruitment and executive search agencies are engaged to assist the Department and its agencies in identifying and recruiting appropriately qualified and experienced individuals in cases where appointments are being filled by open competition and where the Department does not have the relevant in-house recruiting capability.
Where the chief executives of my Department's agencies have responsibilities for this matter under the terms of their framework documents and have additional information I have asked them to write direct to the hon. Member.
Letter from John Chisholm to Mr. Brian Donohoe, dated 11 June 1996:
I cannot give the amounts paid to each of these companies individually as this information is commercial in confidence. The total amount paid in 1994-95 was £54,400 and the figure for 1995-96 was £86,900.
I hope this is helpful.
12 Jun 1996 : Column: 214
12 Jun 1996 : Column: 215
Letter from John Chisholm to Mr. Brian Donohoe, dated 11 June 1996:
I am replying to your Question to the Secretary of State for Defence about the use made by Defence Agencies of executive search agencies and employment companies in 1994/5 and 1995/96, as this matter falls within my area of responsibility as Chief Executive of the Army Base Repair Organisation (ABRO).
I have enclosed the details you requested on a separate sheet. It should be noted that the number of staff engaged through employment agencies was unusually high in 1995/96 because of the need temporarily to replace vital skills lost during the rundown of ABRO Old Dalby. All the work of that workshop is in the process of transfer to other ABRO and MOD facilities or to industry.
Agencies used Numbers of posts filled Cost £
1994-95
Turner Charles Ltd, Staff UK, British Nursing Corporation 5 96,955
1995-96
Turner Charles Ltd, Staff UK, British Nursing Corporation, Kelly Services, Matchmaker Personnel 30 205,514
Your two recent questions asked the Secretary of State for Defence in what circumstances his Department and Agencies have used executive search agencies or employment companies in filling vacancies in preference to their own personnel staff and for details about the agencies used in the years 1994-95 and 1995-96. I am replying on behalf of the Defence Evaluation and Research Agency (DERA) and will answer both questions in this letter.
DERA's policy is to use its own resources for recruiting. On occasion we also use executive search or employment agencies to fill a particularly specialised post or one in a profession not immediately connected with DERA's main business.
The agencies used by DERA with the numbers of staff recruited in the last two years were as follows:
Agency Recruits
1994-95
Hays Accountancy Personnel 2
Accountancy Personnel 1
Saxton Barnfylde 1
Genesis Recruitment 1
HS Consultants 1
Total 6
1995-96
Robert Half (Accountancy) 5
Cambridge Recruitment Consultants 8
Accountancy Personnel 1
Accountancy Appointments 1
Wendy B Employment Consultants 1
Manpower PLC 1
Howlett Thrope Recruitment Consultants 1
Index Recruitment 2
Total 20
Letter from J. C. R. Hunt to Mr. Brian Donohoe, dated 11 June 1996:
Letter from S. Parnell to Mr. Brian Donohoe, dated 11 June 1996:
The Meteorological Office is an Executive Agency of the Ministry of Defence. As Chief Executive I am responding to your question regarding the use of executive search agencies or employment agencies.
In the financial year 1994-95 we made no use of such agencies.
In the financial year 1995-96 we used an agency on one occasion to recruit a senior finance person at a cost of £21,112. This figure is not out of line with recruitment costs generally in an area where market forces are firmly in play.
Letter from Brigadier T. McG. Brown to Mr. Brian Donohoe, dated 11 June 1996:
1. You recently asked the Secretary of State for Defence two Parliamentary Questions concerning the use of executive search agencies and recruitment costs within Agencies of the Ministry of Defence. The matters you raise fall within the responsibilities delegated to the Chief Executive of the Hydrographic Defence Agency, Rear Admiral J. P. Clarke. In the normal course of events Admiral Clarke would reply to you personally but unfortunately he is at present on official duty overseas so I have been asked to reply to you on his behalf.
2. As the two questions you asked relate to similar issues I hope you will not object if I reply to them both in this letter.
3. Turning first to your question about recruitment costs (1497H) the information you require, concerning the Hydrographic Office, can be summarised as follows:
Year Number recruited Cost £
1994-95 15 1,269
1995-96 66 21,681
I am replying to your Parliamentary Question to the Secretary of State for Defence, the Rt Hon Michael Portillo MP, regarding the use of employment and executive search agencies within the MoD and its associated agencies.
As Chief Executive, this matter falls within my area of responsibility for the Defence Postal and Courier Services Agency.
In 1994/95 and 1995/96 the Agency used temporary staff from "Manpower", "Remploy Ltd" and "Josephine Sammons Ltd". We also recruited from local Job Centres and directly via advertisements in the local press. We have approached various agencies to recruit accounting staff with successful candidates being provided by "Bond Accountancy" and "Hays Accountancy Personnel". The staff recruited from agencies are temporary staff for whom we do not pay a recruitment fee, but the hourly charge for these staff incorporates a percentage payable to the recruitment agency. The overall cost of employing agency staff is similar to that of our equivalent permanent staff. We do not maintain a record of the number of general temporary staff employed in 1994/95 and 1995/96. However, the number of temporary specialist accounting staff employed in this time was two.
I hope this information is helpful.
Letter from I. S. Mitchelson to Mr. Brian Donohoe, dated 11 June 1996:
Letter from Brigadier M. G. R. Hodson to Mr. Brian Donohoe, dated 11 June 1996:
I am replying to your question to the Secretary of State for Defence relating to the use of executive search agencies or employment companies, insofar as this area falls within my area of responsibility as Chief Executive of Service Children's Education.
Service Children's Education, and its predecessor Service Children's Schools (North West Europe), has not used executive search agencies or employment companies in filling vacancies during the financial year 1994-95 and 1995-96. The Recruitment and Advisory Service (RAS) is currently being used to assist the recruitment of my replacement following my retirement on 31 December 1996.
Letter from Paul Attobell to Mr. Brian Donohoe, dated 11 June 1996:
I am replying to your two Questions to the Secretary of State for Defence, about executive search and employment agencies, as these matters fall within my area of responsibility as Chief Executive of the Defence Transport and Movements Executive Agency.
We formed as an Agency in April 1995 and since then have utilized the services of just one outside recruitment agency. This was in connection with the engagement of one person direct from the commercial market and in such circumstances I considered it necessary to employ the Recruitment and Assessment Services, Basingstoke, because of their expertise in this specialist area. The cost falling during financial year 1995/96 was £4,054.
Letter from Brigadier M. J. Roycroft to Mr. Brian Donohoe, dated 11 June 1996:
I am replying to your question to the Secretary of State for Defence about the use of executive search agencies or employment companies as this matter falls within my area of responsibility as Chief Executive of the Defence Analytical Services Agency.
DASA has made no use of search agencies during 1994/95 and 1995/96. We have, however, used an employment agency to bring in casual staff on a short term basis to cope with surges in capacity. The details are as follows:
Employment Agency: Manpower plc
Cost of using Agency: DASA recruits casual staff through a central contract placed with Manpower plc by our parent Department (MoD). No details are held locally.
Numbers of staff recruited
1994/95: 4
1995/96: 4
Total cost to DASA
1994/95: £38,439
1995/96: £35,608.
I am replying to 2 of your Questions to the Secretary of State for Defence about how much his Department spent in recruiting staff to his Department and its executive agencies during the 1994-95 and 1995-96 financial years; and how many staff were recruited in each of these years. This matter falls within my area of responsibility as Chief Executive of the Defence Clothing & Textiles Agency.
The Defence Clothing & Textiles Agency has delegated recruiting powers for civilian staff. The Agency did not recruit any staff from external sources in financial year 1994-95 and did not therefore incur any expenditure for recruiting staff. In financial year 1995-96 advertising costs of £5,760 were incurred for the recruitment of 36 personnel. The Agency did not use any executive search agencies or employment companies for filling vacancies during this period.
I hope that the above information provides the answers you require.
Letter from Keith Ellender to Mr. Brian Donohoe, dated 11 June 1996:
Mr. Donohoe:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence in what circumstances his Department or its executive agencies uses an executive search or employment agency to recruit staff in preference to using personnel staff within his own Department or its executive agencies. [31525]
I am replying to your Question to the Secretary of State for Defence about the use made of executive search agencies or employment companies to fill vacancies within agencies. This matter falls to me as Chief Executive of the Disposal Sales Agency.
During 1995/96 the Recruitment and Assessment Services Agency (RAS) were employed to advertise the post of Chief Executive as a cost to my Agency. The cost of advertising amounted to £6,844.37. The fee paid to RAS cannot be disclosed as this information is 'Commercial-in-Confidence'.
No use was made of executive search agencies or employment companies by my Agency during 1994/95.
Your two recent questions asked the Secretary of State for Defence in what circumstances his Department and Agencies have used executive search agencies or employment companies in filling vacancies in preference to their own personnel staff and for details about the agencies used in the years 1994-95 and 1995-96. I am replying on behalf of the Defence Evaluation and Research Agency (DERA) and will answer both questions in this letter.
DERA's policy is to use its own resources for recruiting. On occasion we also use executive search or employment agencies to fill a particularly specialised post or one in a profession not immediately connected with DERA's main business.
The agencies used by DERA with the numbers of staff recruited in the last two years were as follows:
Agency Recruits
1994-95
Hays Accountancy Personnel 2
Accountancy Personnel 1
Saxton Barnfylde 1
Genesis Recruitment 1
HS Consultants 1
Total 6
1995-96
Robert Half (Accountancy) 5
Cambridge Recruitment Consultants 8
Accountancy Personnel 1
Accountancy Appointments 1
Wendy B Employment Consultants 1
Manpower PLC 1
Howlett Thrope Recruitment Consultants 1
Index Recruitment 2
Total 20
Letter from S. Parnell to Mr. Brian Donohoe, dated 12 June 1996:
Letter from Brigadier K. J. W. Good to Mr. Brian Donohoe, dated 12 June 1996:
1. You recently asked the Secretary of State for Defence a Parliamentary Question about the circumstances in which the Ministry of Defence or its executive agencies would use an executive search or employment agency to recruit staff. As the issue you raise falls within the responsibility of the Chief Executive of the Hydrographic Office Defence Agency, your question has been referred to the Hydrographic Office for the provision of a reply. In the normal course of events Admiral Clarke would reply to you personally but unfortunately he is at present on official duty overseas so I have been asked to respond to you on his behalf.
2. In answer to your question, the Hydrographic Office would only use employment agencies in special circumstances, for example to meet short-term requirements owing to temporary absences or because of surge requirements to accommodate sudden, but temporary increases in workflow.
3. I hope the above has been helpful.
Letter from Brigadier T. McG. Brown to Mr. Brian Donohoe, dated 12 June 1996:
I am replying to your Question to the Secretary of State for Defence regarding the circumstances in which my Agency uses an executive search or employment agency to recruit staff in preference to using personnel staff within the Ministry of Defence.
There are currently no circumstances in which the Army Base Storage and Distribution Agency would make use of an executive search or employment agency, as we have no personnel delegations for mobile grades. Non-mobile grades are recruited through Job Centres at no cost to the agency or the Ministry of Defence.
I trust this fully answers your question.
Letter from N. J. Pearson to Mr. Brian Donohoe, dated 12 June 1996:
I am replying to your Parliamentary Question to the Secretary of State for Defence, the Rt Hon Michael Portillo MP, regarding the circumstances in which employment and executive search agencies are used within the MoD and its associated agencies.
As Chief Executive, this matter falls within my area of responsibility for the Defence Postal and Courier Services Agency.
The Agency uses employment agencies to provide temporary staff where it is not possible to recruit permanent staff from within the MoD sufficiently quickly to fill vacancies. This situation generally arises where staff are required at short notice, or occasionally where there is a need to recruit specialist staff on short term appointments. The Agency has not used executive search agencies as all senior staff, both military and civilian, have been appointed from within MoD. We always attempt to recruit from existing MoD staff before approaching employment agencies.
I hope this information is helpful.
I am replying to your Question to the Secretary of State for Defence about the circumstances under which search agencies or employment companies would be used to recruit staff as this matter falls within my area of responsibility as Chief Executive of the Joint Air Reconnaissance Intelligence Centre Defence Agency. The Agency, which is only 2 months old, cannot currently envisage a circumstance in which either an executive search agency or employment company would be used to recruit staff in preference to employing the Agency's Department's own personnel resources.
Letter from Brigadier J. R. Drew to Mr. Brian Donohoe, dated 12 June 1996:
I am replying to your Question to the Secretary of State for Defence asking in what circumstances Defence Agencies use executive search agencies and employment companies, as this matter falls within my area of responsibility as Chief Executive of the Army Base Repair Organisation (ABRO).
ABRO uses the services of employment companies only when difficulties are encountered in filling posts with internal candidates who have the requisite skills and experience or can move in the appropriate time frame. All such appointments are made on temporary contracts and are very much the exception rather than the rule.
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