| Previous Section | Index | Home Page |
3 Jul 2003 : Column 450W—continued
Senior Departmental Posts
Annabelle Ewing: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many senior departmental posts were advertised in each year since June 1999; and how many of these were advertised in the Scottish press. [120661]
Mr. Caplin: The information requested is set out as follows and covers the financial years 1999–2000 through to 2002–03.
| Open competitions to Senior Civil Service posts | |
|---|---|
| 1999–2000 | 7 |
| 2000–01 | 6 |
| 2001–02 | 9 |
| 2002–03 | 9 |
All of the competitions were advertised in the National United Kingdom press with none specifically advertised in the Scottish press.
Service Manning
Mr. Keetch: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence pursuant to his answer of 19 June 2003, Official Report, column 349W, on service manning, if he will list the trades within the critical manning groups of the Army including the (a) requirement, (b) shortfall and (c) percentage manned. [122116]
Mr. Caplin: The following table lists the latest available figures (as at 31 March 2003) for the key trades within the critical manning groups of the Army. The critical manning levels of each trade is calculated by the Arms and Service Directors against various evolving requirements, including commitments. Thus, trades considered to be at critical manning and the factors affecting them will change from time to time.
3 Jul 2003 : Column 451W
| Soldier arm/service and trade | Liability | Trained strength | Shortfall | Percentage manned |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Royal Corps of Signals | ||||
| Information systems operator | 277 | 167 | 110 | 60.3 |
| Systems engineer technician | 567 | 514 | 53 | 90.6 |
| Specialist operator | 325 | 228 | 124 | 70.1 |
| Royal Logistic Corps | ||||
| Ammunition technician | 344 | 268 | 76 | 77.9 |
| Chef | 2,621 | 2,319 | 302 | 88.8 |
| Movement controller | 368 | 331 | 37 | 89.9 |
| Petroleum operator | 257 | 191 | 66 | 74.3 |
| Army Medical Services | ||||
| Royal Army veterinary corps dog trainer | 110 | 89 | 21 | 80.9 |
| Anaesthetist | 32 | 9 | 23 | 28.1 |
| Burns/plastic surgeon | 4 | 2 | 2 | 50.0 |
| Radiologist | 6 | 1 | 5 | 16.7 |
| Orthopaedic surgeon | 11 | 8 | 3 | 72.7 |
| General surgeon | 16 | 10 | 6 | 62.5 |
| General medical practitioner | 197 | 100 | 97 | 50.8 |
| General duties registered nurse (officer) | 350 | 284 | 66 | 81.1 |
| General duties registered nurse (soldier) | 325 | 184 | 141 | 56.6 |
| Accident and emergency nurse (soldier) | 25 | 5 | 20 | 20.0 |
| Intensive care nurse (soldier) | 19 | 4 | 15 | 21.0 |
| Environmental health technician | 72 | 61 | 11 | 84.7 |
| Corps of Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers | ||||
| Vehicle mechanic | 4,124 | 3,432 | 692 | 83.2 |
| Vehicle electrician | 562 | 353 | 209 | 62.8 |
| Recovery mechanic | 587 | 453 | 134 | 77.2 |
| Armourer | 681 | 588 | 93 | 86.3 |
| Royal Engineers | ||||
| Explosive ordnance disposal | 548 | 488 | 60 | 89.0 |
| Military works force | 359 | 257 | 102 | 71.6 |
| Mechanical engineer fitter | 705 | 512 | 193 | 72.6 |
| Mechanical engineer command, control and communications specialist | 836 | 668 | 168 | 79.9 |
| Intelligence Corps | ||||
| Operator military intelligence (includes linguists) | 1,094 | 1,013 | 81 | 92.6 |
Mr. Keetch: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what measures are being taken to address manning shortfalls in the critical manning groups of the (a) Army, (b) RAF and (c) Royal Navy; and if he will make a statement. [122117]
Mr. Caplin: A range of positive measures are in hand across all three services to address critical manning shortfalls. These include both remunerative and non-remunerative measures, some targeted to specific shortfall groups and others across all the services. Recent Manning and Retention reviews for Submarine specialisms, Aircrew and Medical staff have introduced improved career patterns and financial incentives on entry (Golden Helios) and in return for commitment to specific periods of service. These proposals were endorsed by the Armed Forces Pay Review Body (AFPRB).
Examples of some other further measures by individual service are detailed as follows:
- Naval Service—Promotion arrangements for RM Other Ranks and Chef and Warfare ratings have been reviewed to improve incentives, and the offer, where appropriate, of Second Open Engagements (beyond 22 years) has been well received. Artificers are currently the subject of a sustainability study.
Army—Financial Retention Incentive (FRI) for the Royal SIGNALS.
RAF—For Non-commissioned Aircrew (NCA), the implementation of the recommendations from the recent Airmen Aircrew Sustainability Study will introduce a revised NCA branch structure and address terms of conditions of service.
3 Jul 2003 : Column 452W
Service Pension
Mr. Gerald Howarth: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what rate of service pension is paid to an Army major who retired at the age of 55 years after 34 years reckonable service on 1 April (a) 1975, (b) 1976, (c) 1977, (d) 1978 and (e) 1979. [123060]
Mr. Caplin: The rate of service pension paid to an Army Major who retired at the age of 55 years after 34 years reckonable service on 1 April in each of the years between 1975–79 inclusive are as follows:
| (26)£ | (27)£ | |
|---|---|---|
| 1975 | 2,957 | 18,362.14 |
| 1976 | 3,108 | 14,890.96 |
| 1977 | 3,210 | 13,800.43 |
| 1978 | 4,220 | 15,869.90 |
| 1979 | 4,876 | 16,511.84 |
(26) Amount of pension awarded on retirement (excludes any lump sum payable on retirement).
(27) Amount received currently after applying pension increases in line with the Retail Price Index.
Suez Award
Mr. Gerald Howarth: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) whether he plans to make awards of the Suez Medal Clasp in advance of Remembrance Sunday this year; and if he will make a statement; [123058]
3 Jul 2003 : Column 453W
Mr. Caplin: I refer the hon. Member to the answer my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister gave on 23 June 2003, Official Report, column 616W, to the hon. Member for Colchester (Mr. Russell) and the subsequent answer I gave on 30 June 2003, Official Report, column 38W, to the hon. Member for Yeovil (Mr. Laws). Only when Her Majesty The Queen has approved the medal and the qualifying criteria, and the medals with the new clasp have been minted can they be issued to applicants who fulfil the qualifying criteria. Some medals may be despatched before Remembrance Sunday, but it is estimated that it could take a further two years to distribute the majority of medals to eligible applicants.
Dr. Julian Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) what his timetable is for the issuing of the newly-awarded Suez Canal Zone medal to veterans; [123360]
- (2) he will make it his policy to issue to veterans the newly-awarded Suez Canal Zone medal prior to Remembrance Day 2003. [123361]
Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will ensure that the medals for service in the Canal Zone, now awarded to Suez veterans, will be issued within six months. [123631]
Mr. Caplin: I refer the hon. Members to the answer my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister gave on 23 June 2003, Official Report, column 616W, to the hon. Member for Colchester (Bob Russell) and the subsequent answer I gave on 30 June 2003, Official Report, column 38W, to the hon. Member for Yeovil (Mr. Laws). Some medals may be despatched before Remembrance Sunday, but it is estimated that up to 200,000 people could be eligible to receive the medal with its clasp. It would be impossible to issue all Suez Canal Zone medals this year, even if everyone who thought they might qualify for a medal applied immediately. It has been estimated that it could take a further two years to distribute the majority of medals to eligible applicants.
United States Task Force 20
Llew Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether British forces are engaged with the United States Taskforce 20 in Iraq. [122281]
Mr. Ingram: British Forces are operating closely alongside United States forces, including Task Force 20, in Iraq.
FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS
Colombia
Jeremy Corbyn: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions have been held with United States officials concerning their contacts with paramilitary groups in Colombia; and if he will make a statement. [123447]
Mr. Rammell: We have regular discussions with the United States about Colombia in Washington and Bogota. Questions about US contacts with paramilitary groups is a matter for the US Government.
3 Jul 2003 : Column 454W
Cyprus
Mr. Dismore: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what outstanding matters remain for the Republic of Cyprus to address before it accedes to the EU; and if he will make a statement. [R] [123169]
Mr. MacShane: The Republic of Cyprus has concluded negotiations with the EU. The commission produces regular annual reports setting out what Cyprus needs to do before accession on 1 May 2004. Between reports, commission monitoring is ongoing and the commission reports its findings regularly to the council and answers member states' questions on the monitoring process. The commission will publish a final, Comprehensive Monitoring Report publicly available on the commission website, www.europa.eu.int/comm/index en.htm, on or soon after 5 November this year. Monitoring will continue until and beyond accession.
Mr. Dismore: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what action he plans to take to ensure settlers not entitled to Republic of Cyprus nationality resident in occupied Cyprus do not have access to the benefits of an EU national to which Turkish Cypriots will be entitled, when Cyprus joins the EU; and if he will make a statement. [R] [123185]
Mr. MacShane: In the absence of a settlement, the EU acquis will be suspended in the north of Cyprus when the Republic of Cyprus accedes to the EU. Those resident in the north of Cyprus who do not hold Republic of Cyprus passports will not be entitled to EU benefits. Turkish Cypriots with Republic of Cyprus passports will be entitled to EU benefits. However, the benefits available to Republic of Cyprus passport holders resident in the north of Cyprus will be limited by the suspension of the acquis in the north of Cyprus.
Mr. Dismore: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what arrangements are in place to enable Turkish Cypriots resident in the occupied part of Cyprus to participate in elections for the European Parliament; and if he will make a statement. [R] [123186]
Mr. MacShane: None. In the absence of a settlement, the EU acquis will be suspended in the north of Cyprus.
| Next Section | Index | Home Page |