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Menwith Hill and Fylingdales

Miss McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what defence role in the security of the United Kingdom is played by (a) Menwith Hill and (b) Fylingdales; and if he will make a statement. [7173]

Mr. Ingram: RAF Menwith Hill is an integral part of the world-wide US Department of Defence communications network, which supports UK, US and NATO interests. RAF Menwith Hill is also the site for the European Relay Ground Station, which is part of the US Space Based Infra-Red System (SBIRS). SBIRS will be a world-wide satellite based system designed to provide early warning of ballistic missile launch. It will replace the ageing US Defence Support Programme (DSP) satellite system, which has for some years contributed to the security of the UK and NATO. Information on detailed operations at the base is withheld under Exemption 1 (Defence, Security and International Relations) of the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information.

RAF Fylingdales provides the UK with early warning of ballistic missile attack against the UK and Western Europe, and the US with early warning for North America.

Widows' Pensions

Andrew Mackinlay: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will amend the rules governing the entitlement to benefit of widows of retired servicemen to allow them to receive pension in respect of service prior to 1978. [6525]

Mr. Ingram: The Government have no plans to increase the current Armed Forces Pension Scheme provisions for post retirement widows. Following longstanding practice, improvements to the armed forces and other Public Sector pension schemes do not apply retrospectively.

15 Oct 2001 : Column: 942W

Air Squadrons

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence which UK air squadrons are at full complement; what proportion this represents of the total; and if he will make a statement. [6957]

Mr. Ingram: I have assumed this question relates to pilots and navigators only. As at early October 2001, 19 squadrons out of a total of 72 were at full complement. This represents 26 per cent. of the total. In total, 40 squadrons (56 per cent.) were manned at 90 per cent. or better. The shortfall in aircrew is a well-recognised problem and the Ministry of Defence is taking a number of measures to address.

The squadrons at full complement are: 3, 8, 78, 84, 99, 201, 654, 655, 656, 663, 664, 665, 669, 771, 801, 820, 845, 846, 849.

As well as these, the following squadrons are manned at 90–99 per cent.: 1, 4, 13, 14, 22, 23, 32, 39, 47, 51, 54, 70, 101, 202, 206, 216, 662, 702, 815, 819, 848.

Canal Zone Campaign

Mr. Trend: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on progress on the establishment of a medal for those who served in the Canal Zone campaign 1951–54. [7174]

Dr. Moonie: There are no plans to institute a medal to recognise service in the Suez Canal Zone during the period 1951 to 1954. The matter was reviewed in 1998 by the then Minister for the armed forces who found no evidence that he believed would enable him to persuade the Committee on the Grant of Honours Decorations and Medals to overturn their policy of non-retrospection, or to revoke any of the decisions made at the time or following various departmental reviews since 1990. No such evidence has since come to light.

Refurbishment Projects

Ms Walley: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what (a) building and (b) refurbishment projects are planned by his Department in (i) the current and (ii) the next financial year; and what the costs will be of each project. [6596]

Dr. Moonie: Officials in the Ministry of Defence are currently co-ordinating the information requested. I will write to my hon. Friend and a copy of my letter will be placed in the Library of the House.

Civil Servants (Retirement Age)

Mr. Brady: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the compulsory retirement ages which apply to employees of his Department and of executive agencies and other public sector bodies for which it is responsible, broken down by grade or job title. [7231]

Dr. Moonie: Ministry of Defence employees work in some 200 grades which are grouped together into five bands for pay, promotion and career development purposes. Normal retirement age is dependant upon grade, and an extract from MOD's Personnel Manual follows which lists them. About two-thirds of the work force, mainly those in support, technical and industrial grades, can retire at 60 but have the option to work to age 65.

15 Oct 2001 : Column: 943W

The balance, mainly managerial and professional grades, have a normal retirement age of 60. Like all Departments, we are reviewing our age retirement policy in accordance with the Government's policy of expanding the opportunities for older people in the work place.

Normal retirement ages

Grade	Pay band	NRA
Assistant Information Officer	R	65
Admin Assistant	E2	65
Academic Professor of Music	R	60
Assistant Chief Constable Police	R	60
Air Ops Officer	D	65
Admin Officer	E1	65
Area Education Officer	R	60
Accommodation Services Accountant	E1	65
Assistant Scientific Officer	E1	60
Assistant Librarian	D	65
Assistant Statistician	D	60
Assistant Telecommunications Technical Officer	R	65
British Frontier Guard 2 (Customs and Immigration)	R	65
British Frontier Guard 3 (Customs and Immigration)	R	65
British Frontier Guard 4 (Customs and Immigration)	R	65
Chief Inspector Police	R	60
Chief Police Adviser (BAOR)	R	65
Chief Superintendent Police	R	60
Captain of the Queen's Flight	R	65
Career Adviser	R	60
Civilian Accommodation Services Officer	D	63
Chief Constable Police	R	60
Chief Civilian Nursing Officer	R	60
Civilian Dental Practitioner	R	65
Chief Fire Service Officer	R	65
Chief Superintendent of Police (SBA)	R	65
Chief Typing Manager	C2	60
Chaplains Assistant	D	65
Chef 1/Chief Cook 1	R	65
Chef 2/Chief Cook 2	R	65
Civilian Medical Practitioner	R	65
Communications Officer 1	C2	65
Communications Officer 2	D	65
Communications Officer 3	E1	65
Communications Officer 4	E2	65
Conservation Officer F	D	65
Constable	R	60
Co-ordinator Anglo-American Relations	R	65
Chief of Police (SBA)	R	65
Community Relations Adviser	D	65
Civilian Security Officer 1	C1	65
Civilian Security Officer 2	C2	65
Civilian Security Officer 3	D	65
Civilian Security Officer 4	E1	65
Civilian Security Officer 5	E2	65
Catering Manager 3	R	65
Curatorial Officer C	C1	65
Curatorial Officer D	C1	65
Curatorial Officer E	C2	65
Curatorial Officer F	D	65
Curatorial Officer G	E1	65
Deputy Area Officer Social Worker	R	60
D Con 2 SCEA	R	60
Director of Patents	R	60
Director of Studies	R	60
Deputy Chief Constable Police	R	60
Deputy Chief of Police (SBA)	R	65
Deputy Director of Studies	R	60
Defence Courier	R	65
Educational Psychologist	R	60
Executive Officer	D	60
Estate Warden	E1	65
Families Officer	D	65
Fiscal Officer (SBA)	R	65
Fire Service Officer 1	R	65
Fire Service Officer 2	R	65
Fire Service Officer 3	R	65
General Education Adviser	R	60
Graphics Officer	D	60
Graphics Technical Grade	E1	60
G6/A DIR DIS	B1	60
G6/A PROF SG	B1	60
G6/ACCHO	B1	60
G6/CIO(B)	B1	60
G6/CMRO	B1	60
G6/CSALMO	B1	60
G6/HP	B1	60
G6/P&T SUPG	B1	60
G6/S PRIN LB	B1	65
G6/SNR P PSY	R	60
G6/SNR PRIN	B1	60
G6/SPSO	B1	60
G6/STATISTN	B1	60
G7/ECON ADVR	B2	60
G7/HD HIST B	B2	65
G7/HP	B2	60
G7/P GRAPH O	B2	60
G7/P INF OFR	B2	65
G7/P LEC S/G	B2	60
G7/PCHO	B2	60
G7/Principal Intelligence Officer	B2	65
G7/Principal Intelligence Officer (Army)	B2	60
G7/PMRO	B2	60
G7/PMSO	B2	60
G7/PPTO	B2	60
G7/PRIN LIBN	B2	65
G7/PRIN PSY	B2	60
G7/PRINCIPAL	B2	60
G7/PRN INV O	B2	65
G7/PRO	B2	60
G7/PSALMO	B2	60
G7/PSO	B2	60
G7/STATISTN	B2	60
Higher Executive Officer	C2	60
Higher Executive Officer (D)	C2	60
Higher Graphics Officer	C2	60
Higher Instructional Officer	C2	65
Higher Psychologist	C2	60
Higher Intelligence Officer	C2	65
Historian 2	R	65
Higher Linguist Officer	C2	65
Higher Mapping and Charting Officer	C2	60
House Parent	R	60
Higher Professional Photographer	C2	60
HPTO	C2	60
HPTO(D)	R	60
HPTO/HSO (HP)	R	60
House Matron	R	60
Higher Scientific Officer	C2	60
Higher Scientific Officer (D)	R	60
Higher Telecommunications Technical Officer	C2	65
Instrumental Professor of Music	R	60
Information Officer	R	65
Instructional Officer 1	D	65
Instructional Officer 2	D	65
Inspector Police	R	60
Investigating Officer 1	R	65
Investigating Officer 2	R	65
Information Officer 1 (Army)	R	60
Information Officer 2 (Army)	R	60
Judge (SBA)	R	65
Legal Adviser (SBA)	R	65
Lecturer D/S	R	60
Legal Adviser (BAOR)	R	65
Legal Aid Officer	R	60
Librarian	C2	65
Linguist Officer	R	65
Manager RNFC	R	65
Mapping and Charting Officer	D	60
Mapping and Charting Tech Grade 1	E1	65
Mapping and Charting Tech Grade 2	E2	65
Mess Manager A	R	65
Mess Manager B	R	65
MLSO 1	R	65
MLSO 2	R	65
Medical Officer	R	60
Museum Support Grade 1	D	65
Museum Support Grade 2	D	65
Museum Support Grade 3	E1	65
Museum Support Grade 4	E1	65
Museum Support Grade 5	E2	65
Marine Services Officer 1	R	60
Marine Services Officer 2	R	60
Marine Services Officer 3	R	60
Marine Services Officer 4	R	60
Museum Technician 2	D	65
Museum Technician 3	D	65
Naval Regional Officer	R	65
P&GS A	R	60
P&GS B	R	60
P&GS C	R	60
P&GS D	R	60
P&GS E	R	60
Principal Lect RMAS/BRNC	R	60
Principal Patent Officer	R	60
Patent Officer	R	60
Principal Health and Safety Officer	R	60
Principal Linguist Officer	R	65
Principal Medical Officer	R	60
Police Adviser (BAOR)	R	65
Professional Photographer	D	60
Personal Secretary	E1	65
PTO	D	60
PTO 4	D	65
Radio Officer	D	65
Record Reviewer	R	65
Reviser SDS	R	65
RO(Prin)	R	65
RO1	R	65
RO2	R	65
RO3	R	65
Research Officer (R&P)	R	60
Senior Career Adviser 6	R	60
Senior Civil Servants (formerly Grades 1–5)	R	60
Senior Educational Psychologist	R	60
Senior Information Officer	R	65
Senior Inspector Adviser	R	60
Senior Lect D/S	R	60
Senior Lect S/G	R	60
Senior Patent Officer	R	60
Salvage and Mooring Officer (SALMO)	R	65
School Catering Adviser	R	60
Senior Instructional Officer	C1	65
Senior Investigating Officer	R	65
Senior Librarian	C1	65
Senior Executive Officer	C1	60
Senior Executive Officer (COMMS)	C1	60
Senior Fire Service Officer	R	65
SGB 1	E1	65
SGB 2	E2	65
Shore Galley Design and Equip Adv	C1	65
Senior Graphics Officer	C1	60
Sergeant Police	R	60
Senior Health and Safety Officer	R	60
Senior Intelligence Officer	C1	65
Senior Intelligence Officer (Army)	R	60
Senior Linguist Officer	C1	65
Support Manager 1	C2	60
Support Manager 2	D	60
Support Manager 3	D	65
Senior Mapping and Charting Officer	C1	60
Senior Medical Officer	R	60
Senior A/Statistician	C2	60
Senior Economic Assistant	C2	60
Senior Lecturer SR	R	60
Senior Photographer	C1	60
Senior Psychologist	C1	60
Senior Social Worker	R	60
Scientific Officer	D	60
Social Worker	R	60
SOG A	C1	60
SOG B	C2	60
SOG C	D	60
SOG D	D	60
Senior Professional Photographer	C1	60
Senior Personal Secretary	D	60
SPTO	C1	60
SPTO/SSO(HP)	C1	60
Senior Research Officer	C1	60
Senior Scientific Officer	C1	60
Station Warden	E1	65
Senior Telecommunication Technical Officer	C1	65
Subject Adviser	R	60
Supervising Traffic Rep	R	65
Superintendent Police	R	60
Supervising Radio Officer	C2	60
Tech Grade 1	E1	65
Tech Grade 2	E2	65
Traffic Rep	R	65
Telecommunications Technical Officer	D	65
Typing Manager	D	65
Typist	E2	65
Vet Officer	R	60
All Industrial grades	R	65

15 Oct 2001 : Column: 946W

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