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Attitude Surveys
Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the top 10 answers in the last assessed Army Continuous Attitude Survey to (a) Question 27, (b) Question 35, (c) Question 39d, (d) Question 47 and (e) Question 48; how many respondents' answers agreed with each of the top 10; and if he will make a statement. [143617]
Mr. Caplin: From the latest Army Serving Personnel Continuous Attitude Survey undertaken in December 2002, answers to questions 27, 35, 47 and 48 were expressed in terms of a sliding scale from Very Satisfied to Very Dissatisfied or Very High to Low. The answer to question 39d was a straight Yes or No. Given the nature of the response options to these questions, it is not possible to analyse the data in terms of a "top ten".
Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when the Army Continuous Attitude Survey last included questions on (a) overstretch and (b) privatisation and contractualisation; for what reason those questions are not included in the latest edition of the Army Continuous Attitude Survey; and if he will make a statement. [143618]
Mr. Caplin: In compiling Continuous Attitude Surveys, questions are assimilated from a range of issues identified by the Army. The latest Army Serving Personnel Continuous Attitude Survey, undertaken in December 2002, included questions on overstretch. So far no direct questions have been asked about privatisation or contractorisation.
Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many Army personnel answered Scottish to Question Q6a in the last assessed Continuous Attitude Survey, broken down by rank; and if he will make a statement. [143629]
Mr. Caplin: Question 6 in the latest Army Serving Personnel Continuous Attitude Survey, undertaken in December 2002, asked individuals about their nationality. The response options did not include "Scottish" and therefore information is not available to answer this question.
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Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many RAF personnel answered Scottish to Question A16a in the last assessed Continuous Attitude Survey, broken down by rank; and if he will make a statement. [143630]
Mr. Caplin: The most recent issue of the RAF Continuous General Attitude Survey for which results are available covers the period May to July 2003. The number of RAF personnel who answered Scottish to Question A16a in the last survey, broken down by rank is as follows:
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Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many and what percentage of respondents to the last assessed RAF Continuous Attitude Survey responded (a) Strongly agree, (b) Agree, (c) Neither agree nor disagree, (d) Disagree and (e) Don't know/not applicable to questions (i) B12.1 and (ii) B12.2; and if he will make a statement. [143632]
Mr. Caplin: The information requested is set out in the following table.
| B12.1 numbers responding | As a percentageof those asked | B12.2 numbers responding | As a percentageof those asked | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Strongly Agree | 324 | 16.2 | 428 | 21.4 |
| Agree | 369 | 18.4 | 439 | 21.9 |
| Neither agree nor disagree | 176 | 8.8 | 116 | 5.8 |
| Disagree | 123 | 6.1 | 17 | 0.9 |
| Strongly disagree | 7 | 0.4 | 0 | 0 |
| Don't Know/N/A | 17 | 0.9 | 16 | 0.8 |
| Total not responding to item or survey | 984 | 49.2 | 984 | 49.2 |
| Total number surveyed | 2000 | 100 | 2000 | 100 |
Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many and what percentage of respondents to the last assessed RAF Continuous Attitude Survey responded (a) Strongly agree, (b) Agree, (c) Neither agree nor disagree, (d) Disagree and (e) Don't know/not applicable to questions (i) B12.5, (ii) B12.6, (iii) B12.7 and (iv) B12.8; and if he will make a statement. [143633]
Mr. Caplin: The information requested is set out in the following table.
| B12.5 numbers responding | As a percentage of those asked | B12.6 numbers responding | As a percentage of those asked | B12.7 numbers responding | As a percentage of those asked | B12.8 numbers responding | As a percentage of those asked | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Strongly Agree | 92 | 4.6 | 51 | 2.5 | 43 | 2.1 | 62 | 3.1 |
| Agree | 163 | 8.1 | 72 | 3.6 | 87 | 4.3 | 143 | 7.1 |
| Neither agree nor disagree | 314 | 15.7 | 360 | 18 | 335 | 16.7 | 280 | 14 |
| Disagree | 237 | 1 1 .9 | 280 | 14 | 299 | 15 | 281 | 14.1 |
| Strongly disagree | 71 | 3.5 | 78 | 3.9 | 75 | 3.8 | 68 | 3.4 |
| Don't Know/N/A | 137 | 6.9 | 174 | 8.7 | 175 | 8.8 | 180 | 9 |
| Total not responding to Item or survey | 986 | 49.3 | 985 | 49.3 | 986 | 49.3 | 986 | 49.3 |
| Total number surveyed | 2000 | 100 | 2000 | 100 | 2000 | 100 | 2000 | 100 |
Death-in-service Benefits
Mr. Swire: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) what the lump sum death-in-service pay is to widows or widowers for an army corporal; [143021]
- (2) what percentage of an army corporal's final salary is payable to a spouse following death-in-service. [143020]
Mr. Caplin: The current Armed Forces Pension Scheme (AFPS) final salary benefits are not based on individual earnings but on a representative rate of pay for each rank. This means that all those of the same rank with the same length of service retiring in the same year receive the same rate of pension regardless of their actual earnings. The current representative rate of pay for a corporal is £24,678 per annum. The level of death-in-service lump sum paid to a widow or widower of a
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corporal in the Regular Army depends on length of service and whether the death was attributable to service. Where the cause of death is not attributable, the current lump sum is between £23,938 and £35,907, between 97 per cent. and 146 per cent. of the representative rate of pay. If the death is attributable to service, an attributable gratuity of £11,969 is paid in addition to the non-attributable lump sum; this increases the value of the lump sum as a percentage of the representative rate of pay to between 146 per cent. and 194 per cent. Both the lump sum and gratuity are paid tax-free.
In addition to the lump sum, the widow of a corporal in the Regular Army would receive a short-term pension which is equivalent to 100 per cent. of the individual's final salary, paid, depending on circumstances, for a period of between 91 and 273 days. When the short-term pension ceases, a long-term pension is paid. The non-attributable widow's pension is 6.5 per cent. of the representative rate of pay where the individual has served for five years; this rises to 24.25 per cent. for 34 or more years' service. The attributable widows pension is 39 per cent. of the representative rate of pay.
European Union Defence Policy
Mr. Luff: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what recent representations he has received from member Governments of NATO about European Union defence policy. [143790]
Mr. Hoon: Discussions are continuing on European Security and Defence Policy with both NATO and non-NATO EU member states. In addition to these bilateral discussions, the North Atlantic Council and the Political and Security Committee meet on a regular basis to discuss ESDP issues.
Mental Health
Mr. Keith Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence on what (a) medical, (b) financial and (c) administrative factors the decision to close the Duchess of Kent Psychiatric Hospital in Catterick was based. [143486]
Mr. Caplin [holding answer 11 December 2003]: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 16 October 2003, Official Report, column 324W to the hon. Member for South Dorset (Mr. Knight).
The decision to close the Duchess of Kent Psychiatric Hospital (DKPH) was taken on clinical grounds.
Ministry of Defence Police
Mr. McNamara: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what standard instructions are given to Ministry of Defence police personnel on secondment or assignment to assist the civilian police where the criminal responsibility of senior officers may be the subject of the investigation. [143137]
Mr. Caplin: Ministry of Defence police officers seconded or assigned to assist a Home Department police force are subject to the operational control of that force. It would be for the force in question to issue instructions on the conduct of inquiries.
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