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28 Jan 2003 : Column 838W—continued
Oil and Pipelines Agency
Matthew Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will place the latest report of the Oil and Pipelines Agency in the Library. [93715]
Dr. Moonie: The latest report of the Oil and Pipelines Agency was placed in the Library on 19 November 2002.
Pay Settlement
Mr. Keetch: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the four year pay settlement reached with MOD employees. [93469]
Dr. Moonie: The Ministry of Defence has negotiated a four year pay settlement which includes significant reform in line with the Modernising Government agenda, introducing automatic pay progression and focusing performance related pay on bonuses. Similar agreements were negotiated with both industrial and non-industrial staff.
Press Releases
Mr. Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many press releases have been issued by his Department in each (a) year and (b) quarter from 1995–96 to 2002–03; and if he will make a statement. [92463]
Dr. Moonie: The number of press releases issued by the Ministry of Defence's central Press Office has been
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recorded by calendar year only for years 1995–96. Figures for the dates in question are:
| Year | Number |
|---|---|
| 1995 | 149 |
| 1996 | 176 |
| 1997(54) | 160 |
| 1998 | 238 |
| 1999 | 282 |
| 2000 | 224 |
| 2001 | 159 |
| 2002 | 151 |
(54) Data only available from 1 May onwards
The number of press releases issued in each quarter from 1997 to 2002 is in the following table:
| Quarter 1 | Quarter 2 | Quarter 3 | Quarter 4 | Total | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1997 | n/a | 25 | 44 | 91 | 160 |
| 1998 | 72 | 67 | 56 | 43 | 238 |
| 1999 | 75 | 67 | 56 | 84 | 282 |
| 2000 | 44 | 48 | 69 | 63 | 224 |
| 2001 | 53 | 29 | 38 | 39 | 159 |
| 2002 | 40 | 31 | 39 | 41 | 151 |
Note:
Figures by quarter for years before May 1997 are no longer available.
In addition to the figures, the single services, the regional defence press offices and defence agencies issue their own press releases. They also re-issue some central press releases for local distribution. Accurate figures on these, which take account of any "duplicate releases", could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
Private Finance Initiative
Mr. Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what major (a) variations and (b) delays there have been to the Private Finance Initiative contract for the (i) Central Scotland Family Quarters, (ii) NRTA Fire Training, (iii) Army Foundation College, (iv) RAF Mail, (v) RAF Cosford/Shawbay Family Quarters, (vi) RAF Lossiemouth Family Quarters, (vii) Attack Helicopter Training and (viii) Light Aircraft Flying (LAFT) (Bulldog) since they were signed; what their cost has been; whether the partners in the PFI were required to meet these costs; and if he will make a statement. [90168]
Mr. Ingram: Of the specified PFI contracts, only two of the projects have experienced significant changes as follows:
The capping of contaminated mounds on site has led to programme delays and increased construction costs. The Ministry of Defence granted a four-month extension to the contractor, the cost of which is not yet known as it is subject to on-going detailed negotiations. As the site owner, MOD will fund the costs. There were no delays to service provision, which has been provided throughout the construction phase.
Information relating to the software integration delays and costs for the Full Mission Simulator training service can be found in the report by the Comptroller and Auditor General, "Building an Air Manoeuvre
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Capability: The Introduction of the Apache Helicopter", published on 31 October 2002 [HC1246, Session 2001–2002].
Reservists
Mr. Keetch: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many reservists served in (a) the Gulf War, (b) Kosovo and (c) Afghanistan; and what percentage of those fit for active duty this represented at the time. [92137]
Dr. Moonie: As of 22 January, 588 reservists have served in support of operations in Afghanistan. This figure excludes a small number of RAF reservists who served in Afghanistan between 1 July 2002 and 22 January 2003 for which figures are currently unavailable. It is not possible to state what percentage of those reservists fit for active duty this represented as the state of health for members of the reserve forces changes from day to day. A reservist's fitness for active duty only becomes apparent either when they report for service or if they make an application for revocation, exemption or deferral of call-out based on their health.
In the time available it has not been possible to collate information regarding the number of reservists who served in Kosovo or during the 1990–91 Gulf conflict as this is not held centrally.
Mr. Keetch: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many (a) reservists and (b) medical reservists have responded to call-up notices; and if he will make a statement. [92665]
Dr. Moonie: As at 21 January 180 reservists called-out to support Operation TELIC had reported for mobilisation of which 98 were accepted for service. None of these individuals were medical reservists.
Mr. Cameron: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what legal protection to return to their existing jobs is afforded to reservists called up by the armed forces; and if he will make a statement. [93320]
Dr. Moonie: Reservists who are called out into permanent service benefit from employment protection under the Reserve Forces (Safeguard of Employment) Act 1985.Under Section 1 of that Act an employer must take into his or her employment, at the same conditions of service as they were previously serving, former employees who make a written application at the end of a period of called-out service. If this is not reasonable and practical, the Reservist must be reinstated on the most favourable terms of service available.
Should an employer fail to reinstate a Reservist in accordance with the provisions of that Act, the Reservist may apply to a Reinstatement Committee to hear his case. The Reinstatement Committee can order the employer to reinstate the Reservist, or to pay compensation to him/her, or both. Failure to comply with an order of a Reinstatement Committee is a criminal offence, and an employer may be fined on summary conviction. Appeals by either the employer or the Reservist against the determination of the Reinstatement Committee may be made to an Umpire appointed by the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry.
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Royal Marines
Dr. Julian Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the (a) target and (b) actual recruitment figures have been for the Royal Marines in each of the past five years. [92964]
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Dr. Moonie: The target and actual recruitment figures for the Royal Marines in each of the past five years is as follows:
| 1998–99 | 1999–2000 | 2000–01 | 2001–02 | 2002–03 | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Target | Actual | Target | Actual | Target | Actual | Target | Actual | Target | Actual | |
| Officers | 36 | 35 | 36 | 39 | 44 | 45 | 61 | 61 | 52 | 54 |
| RMOR | 1,155 | 1,048 | 1,155 | 1,148 | 1,155 | 1,117 | 1,155 | 1,159 | 1,155 | 1,175 |
| RMBS | 24 | 21 | 31 | 26 | 31 | 25 | 27 | 25 | 29 | 29 |
Note:
RMOR—Royal Marines other Ranks
RMBS—Royal Marines Band Service
Royal Naval Reserve
Dr. Julian Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the (a) target and (b) actual figures have been for recruitment into (a) the Royal Naval Reserve and (b) the Royal Marines Reserve in each of the past five years. [92965]
Dr. Moonie: The target and actual figures for recruitment into the Royal Naval Reserve are recorded by financial year. The figures for the most recent five financial years are as follows:
| Target | Actual | |
|---|---|---|
| 1998–99 | 650 | 445 |
| 1999–2000 | 650 | 604 |
| 2000–01 | 650 | 562 |
| 2001–02 | 650 | 676 |
| 2002–03 | 480 | (55)410 |
(55) As at 31 December 2002
The target and actual figures for recruitment into the Royal Marines Reserve are recorded by calendar year. The RMR figures for each of the last five years are as follows:
| Target | Actual | |
|---|---|---|
| 1998–99 | 300 | 285 |
| 1999–2000 | 300 | 328 |
| 2000–01 | 300 | 260 |
| 2001–02 | 300 | 288 |
| 2002–03 | 300 | 225 |
Dr. Julian Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) if he will make a statement on the role and structure of the Royal Naval Reserve; [92969]
- (2) what assessment his Department has made of the changed roles of (a) the RNR and (b) the RMR since 11 September 2001. [92966]
Dr. Moonie: The Royal Naval Reserve (RNR) exists to provide a corps of readily available, highly trained personnel to enable the Royal Navy to meet its operational commitments in times of stretch, crisis, tension and war—including peacekeeping and humanitarian operations and disaster relief.
The RNR is based upon 13 general-purpose Reserve Training Centres located throughout the United Kingdom. The majority of RNR Branches and Specialisations provide unique skill sets, which are not generally required in peacetime, but are used to augment the Fleet in times of crisis. The operational structure of the RNR has recently been updated to ensure that these requirements can be met. The structure comprises six branches, some of which cover a number of specialisations.
Following the events of 11 September, my hon Friend the Secretary of State for Defence announced that the Ministry of Defence would look again at its defence posture to ensure that we have the right concepts, the right forces and the right capabilities to meet the additional challenges we face from international terrorism and asymmetric threat. He described this work as a New Chapter to the Strategic Defence Review published in 1998. This was presented to Parliament by my hon Friend the Secretary of State for Defence by Command of Her Majesty in July 2002.
Following this review, there are no changes to the role of the Royal Naval Reserve. Neither have there been changes to the role of the RMR, which remains to reinforce the Royal Marines and other services as and when required with individuals and sub-units world-wide.
Dr. Julian Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many (a) professional and (b) voluntary personnel are in the Royal Naval Reserve. [92970]
Dr. Moonie: All members of the Royal Naval Reserve are volunteers. There were 3,222 volunteers as at 31 December 2002. There are 103 serving—i.e. regular armed forces—personnel and 13 Retired Officers employed in managing the RNR and training the volunteers.
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