Further memorandum from the Ministry of
Defence
Further information requested following the
evidence session with Air Chief Marshal Sir Jock Stirrup KCB,
AFC, ADC on 20 October.[15]
Has the breakdown been worked out?
The RAF has completed much of the planning work
required to implement the drawdown of RAF manpower reductions
announced by the Secretary of State to the House of Commons on
21 July 2004. Implementation of the drawdown will, however, require
constant oversight as individual change programmes that contribute
to the reduction in requirement mature. On current plans, the
reduction in strength of 7,500 personnel by April 2008 will come
from four main areas: manpower efficiency programmes (3,300),
headquarter reductions (1,800), estate rationalisation (1,600),
and Force Element reductions (800). Nearly two-thirds of the drawdown
will be achieved through a balanced strategy of normal outflow
and reduced recruitment. A targeted redundancy programme is required
to achieve the remainder. The process for the first stage of the
redundancy programme is already underway.
How many compulsory redundancies will be required
and in what areas will they fall?
The RAF has identified a need for some 2,750
redundancies which will be effected by a compulsory scheme, for
which applications will be invited. It is hoped that as many of
the redundancies as possible will be applicants but, in order
to ensure the long-term balance of ability and experience across
the RAF, it may not be possible to accept all applications, in
which case, it may be necessary to select some non-applicants.
Redundancies will be targeted against a limited number of branches
and trades; the bulk of the numbers are likely to be in the aircraft
engineering trades.
What will be the arrangements and timescale for
the redundancy programme?
The redundancy arrangements will be in line
with those laid down in the Queen's Regulations for the RAF. The
programme is expected to take place in three tranches over the
next three years. Invitations for the first tranche of around
450 were invited in December 2004 with applicants set to leave
the service by 30 September 2005 and non-applicants by 31 March
2006. The closing date for applications was 28 January 2005 and
there were 1,160 applications for the 450 places; most of the
unsuccessful applicants will remain eligible to apply for the
next tranche. Applications for the next tranche of around 1,200
are expected to be invited in April 2005 and those for the third
tranche of around 1,100 in April 2006. If there are sufficient
applications, it should be possible to complete the redundancy
programme by the end of April 2007.
What information has been passed to the workforce?
At the end of October 2004, in advance of an
announcement on the numbers for the first tranche of redundancy,
a Defence Council Instruction was published explaining the arrangements
for the forthcoming redundancy programme. On 9 December 2004,
Min(AF) announced the outcome of the initial work on the manpower
drawdown by means of a Written Ministerial Statement (WMS)(Hansard
Col 102WS). At the same time, a signal was sent to all RAF units
notifying personnel of the fields (by rank and trade) for the
first tranche of the redundancy programme and inviting applications
to be considered. This was accompanied by a "U need 2 know"
briefing note. Copies of the Defence Council Instruction, the
signal and the relevant extract from "U need 2 know"
are attached. All of these documents were made available to RAF
personnel on internal web-sites. Articles were also published
in RAF News. Further information will be promulgated to
personnel as the redundancy programme progresses.
February 2005
15 Ev 19-37 Back
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