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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 Pilots42
Multi-Engine Pilots48
Rotary Wing Pilots46
Fast-Jet Weapons Systems Operators28
Multi-Engine Weapons Systems Operators9
Non-Commissioned Aircrew103
Total276

Key Target 1B:

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 Training274
Airman Basic Specialist Training2,166
Total2,440

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.
RAF560
RN164
Army305
Tri-Service95
International113
Total1,237

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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RAF17,763
RN3,983
Army6,766
Total28,512

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.

Key Target 4: Cost Management

To ensure that the necessary systems are in place to manage the business on an output-cost basis.

Key Target 5:

Efficiency

To reduce the average per capita cost of training by improving first time and overall pass rates.
First Time Pass RateOverall Pass Rate
Officers—Phase 175%98%
Officers—Phase 290%97%
Airmen—Phase 175%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.