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Pay and Conditions
Mr. Colvin: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will ensure that the pay and conditions of service of service men and women serving in Macedonia are comparable with those service men and women of other NATO countries. [82228]
Mr. Doug Henderson: The pay and conditions of service of personnel serving in the armed forces of NATO are governed by the needs and circumstances of individual member states and reflect the composition and role of their armed services. In the case of the UK, the pay and conditions of service package, which is recommended by the independent Armed Forces Pay Review Body, reflects the fully professional status of our armed forces and their expectation of unlimited liability for world-wide deployment throughout a career.
Basic pay includes a component known as the X Factor, currently 12 per cent. for regulars, which recognises, among other things, the need to serve sometimes in difficult and dangerous situations. Unlike special operational allowances which may be paid to other countries' armed forces when on deployment, the X Factor is paid through a whole UK Service career and is pensionable. Other career benefits include, subsidised food and accommodation, assisted house purchase schemes and--while away on
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operations--a special allowance to compensate for longer periods of separation known as Longer Separated Service Allowance which is payable after three years' total service. In addition, special arrangements have been made to provide our Service men and women with a wide range of supportive and welfare measures while they are deployed to the Balkans. These include the availability of 10 minutes of free telephone calls per week, return flights for rest and recreation in UK for those deployed in excess of 4 months and some free mail facilities.
Overall, it is difficult and misleading to attempt to draw precise comparisons between the different nations' armed forces serving in Macedonia based on a single aspect such as pay. A full comparison of terms and conditions of service, or the spectrum of welfare provision and facilities, is necessary.
Mr. Brazier:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what are the (a) manpower establishments and (b) actual manning levels for each of the three regular parachute battalions. [82344]
Mr. Doug Henderson
[holding answer 27 April 1999]: The establishments and actual staffing levels for each of the three regular parachute battalions, as at 1 March 1999, are shown in the table. The figures are for UK Trained Army Personnel only, and exclude Locally Employed personnel, Royal Irish (Home Service) personnel, Reservists mobilised for duties associated with Bosnia, Full Time Reserve Service personnel, and Gurkhas (excepting the Gurkha Reinforcement Company presently attached to 2 Para).
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| 1 Para | 2 Para | 3 Para | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Estb | Str | Estb | Str | Estb | Str | |
| Infantry: | 576 | -- | 574 | -- | 550 | -- |
| Parachute Regiment | -- | 457 | -- | 536 | -- | 443 |
| Gurkha Reinforcement Company(1) | -- | -- | -- | 106 | -- | -- |
| Other Infantry Cap Badges(2) | -- | 2 | -- | 2 | -- | 3 |
| Royal Armoured Corps(2) | -- | -- | -- | 1 | -- | -- |
| Royal Logistics Corps | 23 | 19 | 23 | 26 | 23 | 22 |
| Royal Army Medical Corps | 2 | 5 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 3 |
| Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers | 14 | 13 | 14 | 14 | 11 | 23 |
| Adjutant General's Corps (Staff and Personnel Support) | 21 | 23 | 21 | 22 | 21 | 23 |
| Army Physical Training Corps | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Total | 637 | 520 | 635 | 710 | 608 | 518 |
(1) The strength figures for 2 Para include 106 Gurkhas in the Gurkha Reinforcement Company: these Officers and Soldiers are not counted in United Kingdom Trained Army Personnel figures
(2) Officers and Other Ranks on attachment to Parachute Regiment
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Mr. Brazier: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence on what date are 10 and 4 (TA) parachute battalions are due to be merged and reduced; what was their old manpower establishment; and what is their planned amalgamated manpower establishment. [82346]
Mr. Doug Henderson
[holding answer 27 April 1999]: The TA parachute battalions, 4 Para (V) and 10 Para (V), are to be merged and reduced in size with effect from 1 July 1999. 4 Para (V) was established for 531 all ranks and 10 Para (V) was established for 530 all ranks. After 1 July 1999 the new battalion, to be called 4 Para (V), will be established for 324 all ranks.
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Mr. Blunt:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what plans his Department has to commemorate the 60th anniversary of Dunkirk and to mark the final pilgrimage of the Dunkirk Veterans Association. [75912]
Mr. Doug Henderson:
I understand that the Dunkirk Veterans Association is planning to hold its final pilgrimage to Dunkirk in June 2000, to commemorate the 60th anniversary of the evacuation of the British Expeditionary Force from Dunkirk.
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Mr. Vaz:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will provide a breakdown by ethnic origin and grade of members of the (a) Army, (b) Royal Navy and (c) Royal Air Force. [79051]
Mr. Doug Henderson:
I will publish the figures for the end of the year 1998-99 shortly.
Mr. Llew Smith:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will set out the basis on which some non-statutory liabilities are described as unquantifiable at page 23 of his Department's expenditure plans 1999-2000 to 2001-02, Cm 4208. [81576]
Mr. George Robertson:
Because of the nature of the liabilities involved, it is not always possible to quantify accurately the potential contingent liability or to provide a realistic estimate of the likely charge that would result if the liabilities were to mature. In these cases, the term "unquantifiable" is used to describe the liabilities in question. If the indemnities were to be called upon, provision for any payment would be sought through the Supply procedure.
Mr. Brazier:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many small arms trainer ranges were available for armed forces use in 1997; and how many are currently available. [81777]
Mr. Doug Henderson:
As at 31 December 1997, there were 158 small arms trainer (SAT) systems available to the Armed Forces. Since then, three further systems have been procured, two of which are now fully operational.
Mr. Brazier:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the (a) condition, (b) availability and (c) future use of the small arms trainer range at Chelsea Barracks. [81778]
Mr. Doug Henderson:
The small arms trainer at Chelsea Barracks has been moved to Cavalry Barracks, Hounslow. Units that previously used the small arms trainer at Chelsea Barracks are now able to use the alternative facility at Wellington Barracks.
Mr. Keetch:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment he has made of the impact on the Falkland Island garrison of the withdrawal of diversion rights for RAF Tristars by Uruguay and Brazil; and if he will make a statement. [81868]
Mr. Doug Henderson:
There has been no withdrawal of diversion rights for RAF aircraft by Uruguay or Brazil.
Mr. Nicholas Winterton:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on his Department's timescale in the delivery of a 20mm calibre gun to the Falkland Islands Fisheries Department for the arming of a fishery protection vessel. [82059]
Mr. Doug Henderson:
Following Government approval in January 1999 to procure a 20mm Oerlikon cannon, a formal order was received from the Falkland Islands Government on 2 February. Considerable work
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was subsequently necessary to clarify the requirements for spares, fittings and ammunition, and the order for this support material was not received until 15 April. The cannon and associated support stores have now been prepared for dispatch and, on current plans, will be sent out at the next practical opportunity in early May.
Mr. Laurence Robertson:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what plans he has to extend the provision of RAF pensions to surviving spouses of service personnel; and if he will make a statement. [82042]
Mr. Doug Henderson
[holding answer 26 April 1999]: Surviving spouses of members of the RAF, like those of other Service personnel, are generally entitled to receive a widow's pension. There are two exceptions: pensions are not paid to widows or widowers who married their partner before 1978 but after their partner had left the armed forces; and pensions are withdrawn from widows and widowers who remarry (although they may be restored if their second spouse subsequently dies). From time to time we receive representations to extend entitlements to these groups, and we shall examine them again as part of the current review of the Armed Forces Pension Scheme.
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