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Naval Recruiting and Training Agency
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Defence (Mr. Ivor Caplin): In 1997 the initial and major phase of the transfer of support service activities to Flagship Training Ltd (Flagship), under partnership arrangements with the Naval Recruiting and Training Agency (NRTA), was agreed and subsequently implemented.
I am pleased to inform the House that I have now agreed in principle to the next phase under this arrangement and the transfer of the provision of services which falls into two categories: harmonisation, and the integration of the nuclear department.
This phase will enhance the support services already transferred, providing greater efficiencies and effectiveness across the five major training Establishments for the Royal Navy. There are potential total savings for the Naval Recruiting and Training Agency of approximately £6 million over the remainder of the contract period to 2011.
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The anticipated number of posts to be transferred is 296 (273 civilian and 23 service) under harmonisation and 24 (20 civilian and 4 Service) in the nuclear department. The trades unions have been regularly informed of progress and the formal consultation process has begun. A copy of the consultative documents has been placed in the Library of the House.
Training Group Defence Agency
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Defence (Mr. Ivor Caplin): The commander-in-chief, Royal Air Force personnel and training command has set the chief executive of the Training Group Defence Agency the following targets for financial year 2004–2005:
Key Target 1A: Output—RAF Initial Flying Training
To recruit and train the required number of Royal Air Force aircrew to the standards required for entry to operational conversion unit training and other specialist flying training courses.
| Fast-Jet Pilots | 42 |
| Multi-Engine Pilots | 48 |
| Rotary Wing Pilots | 46 |
| Fast-Jet Weapons Systems Operators | 28 |
| Multi-Engine Weapons Systems Operators | 9 |
| Non-Commissioned Aircrew | 103 |
| Total | 276 |
Output—RAF Initial Ground Training
To recruit and train the required number of Royal Air Force personnel to the standards required to undertake ground appointments.
| Officer Basic Specialist Training | 274 |
| Airman Basic Specialist Training | 2,166 |
| Total | 2,440 |
Key Target 2A: Output—Defence Flying Training
To train aircrew of the three services to standards for entry to the Royal Air Force and Royal Navy operational conversion unit training, the Defence Helicopter Flying School and other specialist flying training courses, as well as providing training places for international students.
| RAF | 560 |
| RN | 164 |
| Army | 305 |
| Tri-Service | 95 |
| International | 113 |
| Total | 1,237 |
Key Target 2B: Output—Defence Ground Training
To train personnel of the three services to the standards required to undertake ground appointments.
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| RAF | 17,763 |
| RN | 3,983 |
| Army | 6,766 |
| Total | 28,512 |
To underpin the military effectiveness of the Royal Air Force by the timely provision of military personnel trained to the standards agreed with the agency's customers.
To ensure that the necessary systems are in place to manage the business on an output-cost basis.
To reduce the average per capita cost of training by improving first time and overall pass rates.
| First Time Pass Rate | Overall Pass Rate | |
|---|---|---|
| Officers—Phase 1 | 75% | 98% |
| Officers—Phase 2 | 90% | 97% |
| Airmen—Phase 1 | 75% | 90% |
| Airmen—Phase 2(<38 weeks) | 80% | 90% |
| Airmen—Phase 2(>38 weeks) | 63% | 83% |
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SOLICITOR GENERAL
Iraq: Prosecution of Trooper Williams
The Solicitor-General (Ms Harriet Harman): My right hon. Friend the Attorney-General has made the following Ministerial Statement.
"As I indicated in my written statement to the House on 14 June, Official Report, Lords, columns WS 22–24, this case, which involves an alleged unlawful killing by shooting of an Iraqi citizen during the course of an arrest, was brought to my attention after charges were dismissed by the soldier's commanding officer. This meant the case could not be tried by court martial. I referred it to the CPS who asked the Metropolitan Police for assistance in collecting further evidence.
I can confirm that today the Metropolitan Police, on the advice of the CPS, charged Trooper Williams with the murder of Hassan Said on 3 August 2003 in Ad Dayr Iraq. Trooper Williams has been kept in custody to appear at Bow Street magistrates court this afternoon.
Trooper Williams is a member of 2nd Royal Tank Regiment."