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Reserve Forces
Mr. Bob Russell: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many of his Department's civilian employees are member of (a) the Territorial Army and (b) other reserve forces. [78516]
Mr. Doug Henderson: MOD encourages its civilian employees to join the reserve forces and staff regulations make special provisions for paid leave when attending annual camp and other training commitments. However, the information asked for is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
Mr. Bob Russell: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the companies which support the Territorial Army by allowing their employees to serve. [78517]
Mr. Doug Henderson:
The National Employers' Liaison Committee maintains a list of all employers who declare their support for the volunteer reserve forces and I shall place a copy of the current list in the Library of the House. Not all employers on the list necessarily have reservists in their workforce but, having declared their support, they are likely to be supportive of anyone wanting to join the reserve forces. On 17 March 1999, my
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right hon. Friend the Prime Minister presented a certificate to the 6,000th employer to have pledged support. Some 70 per cent. of the nation's workforce are employed by employers who have declared their support for the volunteer reserve forces. In addition, there are many employers who have not formally pledged their support but do have employees who are members of the volunteer reserve forces.
Mr. Kidney:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the workings of the performance-related pay system for the MOD police since 1994. [78811]
Mr. Doug Henderson:
With effect from 1 April 1996 the salaries of the Chief Constable and the Deputy Chief Constable, Ministry of Defence Police, have been determined in line with the provisions applying to the Senior Civil Service, which includes an element related to performance. The salaries of the ranks of Constable to Superintending grade are calculated at 95 per cent. of the level for analogous Home Department Police Forces.
Mr. Kidney:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what expenditure his Department has incurred since 1994 in defending legal actions, including industrial tribunals, brought by MOD police personnel relating to terms and conditions of service. [78810]
Mr. Doug Henderson:
The Ministry of Defence Police have incurred some £125k expenditure since 1994 defending legal actions relating to employment tribunals brought by MOD Police personnel relating to terms and conditions of service.
Disabled People
Dr. Lynne Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many people responded to the consultation paper on support for disabled people; if he will list those who (a) supported, (b) opposed the proposal to make New Deal interviews compulsory and (c) opposed taking into account income for which people have already contributed against a benefit earned through the payment of contributions. [77539]
Mr. Bayley: Consultation on our proposals for the reform of benefits for disabled people ended on 8 January. 342 responses were received, just over half of which came from organisations representing disabled people. A list of the organisations that responded has been placed in the Library.
150 respondents, including 177 organisations, commented on our proposals to introduce a Single Work-Focused Gateway to benefits for working age claimants. While the vast majority of respondents generally welcomed our initiatives to help disabled people into work, a large number of these felt that final decisions on whether to make interviews compulsory should await consideration of the results of piloting. (Involvement in the New Deal for Disabled People will remain voluntary).
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155 respondents, including 90 organisations, commented on our proposal to take some account of occupational and personal pensions against Incapacity Benefit entitlement. Most respondents expressed concerns about this proposal.
Responding organisations and the proposals they commented on are in the table.
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