| Previous Section | Index | Home Page |
DEFENCE
Cadets
Mr. Chidgey: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what steps he has taken to encourage the military training of cadets. [17428]
Mr. Soames:
My Department continues to support syllabuses predominantly geared to military training for the cadet forces. For the Army Cadet Force and the Air Training Corps, military training forms about 60 per cent. of the total training given to cadets. For the Sea Cadet Corps this figure is about 30 per cent. because the
5 Mar 1997 : Column: 637
emphasis on sail-training and watermanship has a more civilian, rather than military application. The RN, Army and RAF sections of the combined cadet force follow similar training syllabuses to those of their respective single service cadet forces. The remaining time is devoted to adventurous and other activities. The syllabuses for military training covers the following subjects.
Mr. Jamieson:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) what was the average cost to his Department of the school places provided for the children of service personnel in independent and private schools in each of the last five years; [17932]
Mr. Soames
[holding answer 27 February 1997]: The average cost of places in independent and private schools provided by my Department through the boarding school allowance scheme and special educational needs allowance in each of the last five years was as follows:
For figures of the number of service children who have benefited from boarding school allowance, I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave him on 26 November 1996, Official Report, columns 195-96.
Mr. Foulkes:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what were the amounts paid to the Canadian Government in each financial year from 1993-94 onwards for Royal Air Force use of the facilities at Goose bay, Labrador; what are the estimated total payments for financial years 1996-97 and 1997-98; what was the breakdown for each year into (a) dedicated costs and (b) the United Kingdom share of common costs; and what exchange rate was applicable for each year. [17990]
5 Mar 1997 : Column: 638
Mr. Soames:
For financial years 1993-94 to 1996-97 the breakdown is as follows:
Sea Cadet Corps (SCC)
Bearing and self discipline, rank and rate structure of the Royal Navy, naval customs, basic seamanship and swimming, navigation and rules of the road, maritime affairs, squad drill, arms drill, firefighting, first aid, communications.
Army Cadet Force (ACF)
Drill, turnout, military knowledge, skill at arms, use of map and compass, fieldcraft, band, first aid, life saving, canoeing, competition shooting, and self reliance training.
Air Training Corps (ATC)
RAF history, airmanship, map reading, principles of flight, basic navigation, aircraft recognition, drill, skill at arms, first aid, lifesaving, air experience flying, gliding, visits to RAF stations.
Combined Cadet Force (CCF)
The CCF contingents which are formed in schools, undertake a similar military training syllabus as laid down for their respective single-service cadet organisation.
(2) how many pupils have benefited from the boarding school allowance in each of the past five years. [17931]
1991-92: £7,116 per place
1992-93: £7,720 per place
1993-94: £9,040 per place
1994-95: £9,438 per place
1995-96: £10,337 per place
| Financial year | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1993-94 | 1994-95 | 1995-96 | (13)1996-97 | |
| Dedicated costs | ||||
| (£ million) | 6.885 | 5.049 | 4.578 | 4.402 |
| Common costs | ||||
| (£ million) | 7.517 | 7.022 | 6.632 | 4.137 |
| Total contribution payable to Canada | ||||
| (£ million) | 14.402 | 12.071 | 11.210 | 8.539 |
| Exchange rate £ = | C$1.96 | C$2.13 | C$2.14 | C$2.14 |
(13) Estimates.
Figures shown are based on bills and estimates presented by the Canadian Government. We expect our overall costs at Goose bay to reduce slightly in financial year 1997-98.
Regiments
Mr. Bayley: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is (a) the current establishment and (b) the nominal strength of (i) The Duke of Wellington's Regiment, (ii) Green Howards, (iii) Prince of Wales's Own Regiment of Yorkshire, (iv) The Light Infantry, (v) The Royal Dragoon Guards, (vi) The Light Dragoons and (vii) 1 Royal Tank Regiment. [18265]
Mr. Soames: The establishments and strengths are as follows:
| Unit | Establishment | Strength | Surplus/Deficit |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1st Battalion The Duke of Wellingtons Regiment | 554 | 585 | +31 |
| 1st Battalion The Green Howards | 625 | 654 | +29 |
| 1st Battalion The Prince of Wales's Own Regiment of Yorkshire | 539 | 548 | +9 |
| The Light Infantry | |||
| 1st Battalion | 581 | 553 | -28 |
| 2nd Battalion | 555 | 506 | -49 |
| The Royal Dragoon Guards | 406 | 397 | -9 |
| The Light Dragoons | 388 | 405 | +17 |
| 1st Royal Tank Regiment | 398 | 360 | -38 |
Junior Leader Scheme
Dr. David Clark: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his answer of 20 February, Official Report, column 719, how many people were made redundant as a result of the decision to close the junior leader and apprentice training site at Harrogate; what was the total cost of redundancy payments; and if he will make a statement. [18117]
Mr. Soames
[holding answer 28 February 1997]: Nine non-industrial and 17 industrial personnel were made redundant. The total cost to the Ministry of Defence is £354,513, which can be broken down into £261,925, the cost for this financial year, and £92,688, the cost of the future liability for annual compensation payments which will extend over the next nine years.
5 Mar 1997 : Column: 639
Mr. Tony Banks:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the involvement of armed forces personnel in the eviction of protesters on or around the route of the A30 Honiton to Exeter road improvement between 1 December 1996 and 27 February 1997. [18749]
Mr. Soames:
There was no armed forces involvement in the eviction of the protesters.
Waste Management
Mr. Martyn Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will list the ways in which his Department has demonstrated the ability to improve efficiency and competitiveness through an environmental audit of waste management within those buildings his Department occupies; and if he will make a statement. [16427]
Mr. Roger Evans: The Department of Social Security has had an environmental strategy in place since 1992. Our environmental audits concentrate on auditing all new buildings and major refurbishment to obtain Building Research Establishment environmental assessment method accreditation.
The Department encourages use of the Environment Agency's DIY environmental performance checklist for premises management.
Incapacity Benefit
Mr. Pike: To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security (1) how many people are currently receiving invalidity benefit in England; [17810]
- (2) how many people received sickness benefit in England in the latest week for which figures are available. [17811]
Mr. Burt: The information is in the table:
| Number of incapacity benefit recipients in England at 31 August 1996 | |
|---|---|
| Incapacity benefit short term lower rate | 94,000 |
| Incapacity benefit short term higher rate | 84,000 |
| Incapacity benefit long term rate | 1,190,000 |
| Total | 1,368,000 |
1. Figures are taken from a 5 per cent. sample of the incapacity benefit computer system and rounded to the nearest thousand. Does not include a small number of cases not on the system.
2. From April 1995 sickness benefit was replaced by incapacity benefit--short-term lower rate--and invalidity benefit was replaced by incapacity benefit--short-term higher and long term rate.
Mr. Alan Howarth:
To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many claimants of (a) incapacity benefit, (b) severe disablement allowance and (c) income
5 Mar 1997 : Column: 640
support where a disability premium is in payment have (i) been disallowed benefits and (ii) subsequently signed on as unemployed since April 1995; what was the average duration of unemployment benefit or jobseeker's allowance; and how many of those signing on have subsequently found work. [17096]
Mr. Burt
[holding answer 25 February 1997]: Information is not available in the format requested. Such information as is available is as follows:
| Next Section | Index | Home Page |