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23 Jun 2008 : Column 41W—continued
Aircraft Carriers
Jessica Morden: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what percentage of high-tech contracts arising from the construction of the two new aircraft carriers will be competitively tendered. [212094]
Mr. Bob Ainsworth: The Aircraft Carrier Alliance estimates that over 60 per cent. of procurement subcontracts (by value) will be competitively tendered.
Armed Forces
Dr. Kumar: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what support is provided to the families of British service personnel killed in action. [212166]
Des Browne: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given on 27 February 2007, Official R eport, column 1145W, to the hon. Member for Lancaster and Wyre (Mr Wallace).
Armed Forces: Officers
Dr. Murrison: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what proportion of (a) 1 star, (b) 2 star, (c) 3 star and (d) 4 star officers in the armed forces were serving abroad at the most recent date for which figures are available. [213161]
Mr. Bob Ainsworth: Figures for the stationed location of UK regular forces are available in Tri-Service Publication (TSP) 10: “UK Regular Forces stationed location”.
Information by rank of those who are serving abroad is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
Dr. Murrison: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many (a) 1 star, (b) 2 star, (c) 3 star and (d) 4 star officers in the armed forces occupy service accommodation as their main place of residence. [213162]
Derek Twigg: Information on whether service accommodation is the main residence of the officers concerned is not collected centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
Dr. Murrison: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many (a) 1 star, (b) 2 star, (c) 3 star and (d) 4 star officers there were in each of the services in each year since 1997. [213163]
Mr. Bob Ainsworth: Information on the strength of the UK regular forces by rank is published in table 2 of Tri-Service Publication 9, “UK Regular Forces Rank Structure” (TSP 9). Copies of the most recent and historical publications can be found at:
In TSP 9, 4 star officers are referred to as OF-9, 3 star officers as OF-8, 2 star officers as OF-7 and 1 star officers as OF-6. 1997 data are not available on our website and are provided in the following table:
| UK regular strength of 1 to 4 star officers, at 1 April 1997 | ||||
| 1 star | 2 star | 3 star | 4 star | |
| Notes: 1. Figures less than 100 have been left unrounded so as not to obscure the data. 2. Those above 100 have been rounded to the nearest 10. | ||||
Armed Forces: Pay
Dr. Murrison: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the income of a private soldier who had completed basic training was as a proportion of that of a (a) 1 star, (b) 2 star, (c) 3 star and (d) 4 star officer in each year since 1997. [213164]
Mr. Bob Ainsworth: The basic pay of a trained private soldier, expressed as proportion of that of a (a) 1 star, (b) 2 star, (c) 3 star and (d) 4 star officer in each year since 1997 is shown in the following table:
| Privates annual pay expressed as a percentage of annual pay of a: | ||||
| 1 star officer | 2 star officer | 3 star officer | 4 star officer | |
The minimum rate of pay has been used for each rank. The figures reflect basic pay only, i.e. those rates paid in accordance with an individual's rank, trade and seniority. Other elements of the military remuneration package, such as specialist pay and allowances, are not included.
Armed Forces: Vehicles
Mr. Lancaster: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence pursuant to the answer of 9 May 2008, Official Report, column 1209W, on the armed forces: vehicles, for what reasons and when the restrictions on speed and distance in relation to dual purpose vehicles referred to in the answer were brought in; when they were brought in; and if he will make a statement. [212312]
Mr. Bob Ainsworth [holding answer 19 June 2008]: Speeds and distance regulations for dual purpose vehicles (DPVs) were introduced in January 2005. They were brought in to mitigate some of the risks of using standard seating systems, established following a risk review.
Enhanced seating systems are being progressively phased in through the DPV fleet, a programme which began in May 2007, to improve comfort and safety. In September 2007 the speed and distance restrictions for enhanced seating systems were introduced.
Army: Manpower
Dr. Fox: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the current average individual separated service rate is for each unit in the (a) infantry, (b) Royal Corps of Signals, (c) Royal Logistics Corps, (d) Royal Engineers and (e) Royal Artillery. [211974]
Derek Twigg: This information is not currently held and to produce this would incur disproportionate cost.
Defence Medical Services: Finance
Dr. Fox: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the efficiency savings required by his Department from Defence Medical Services were in 2007-08; and what the planned savings targets are for 2008-09. [200932]
Derek Twigg: Under the spending review 2004 efficiency programme, the MOD was required to achieve £2.83 billion of cumulative input and output efficiency savings by the end of 2007-08. Deputy Chief of the Defence Staff (Health) Higher Level Budget (DCDS(H) HLB) delivered £102 million of this target in output efficiencies. This was achieved primarily in the patient care pathways through the Defence Rehabilitation Programme. By improving access to diagnosis, rehabilitation and orthopaedic surgery the MOD saved an estimated 1.27 million deployable man-days in 2007-08 that would otherwise have been lost while individuals waited for treatment.
As part of the 2007 financial planning round, further efficiency savings targets of £3.7 million for 2007-08 and £1.4 million for 2008-09 were agreed with the DCDS(H) HLB.
Defence: Expenditure
Mr. Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the planned change in defence spending is in each of the next three financial years. [212338]
Des Browne: The Defence Budget for the period 2008-09 to 2010-11 is set out in the 2007 Comprehensive Spending Review and pre-Budget-report (CM 7227). The Budget for 2011-12 and beyond will be set as part of the next spending review.
Departmental Inquiries
Mrs. May: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what independent inquiries have been commissioned by his Department in the last five years; what the (a) purpose and (b) cost was of each; and what steps were taken following each. [211120]
Mr. Bob Ainsworth: In the last five years, the Ministry of Defence has commissioned the following independent inquiries and reviews:
We announced on 14 May 2008, Official Report, columns 60-61WS, an independent inquiry into the death of Baha Mousa, who died in British custody in Iraq in September 2003. The terms of reference are being determined.
The Review of the loss of MOD laptops
On 21 January 2008, Official Report, column 1255, we announced an independent review of the loss of MOD data. The terms of reference are:
To establish the exact circumstances and events that led to the loss by MOD of personal data; to examine the adequacy of the steps taken to prevent any recurrence, and of MOD policy, practice and management arrangements in respect of the protection of personal data more generally; to make recommendations; and to report to MOD's Permanent Secretary not later than 30 April 2008.
The review is complete and a ministerial announcement will be made soon. The costs of this review were £44,961.
On 4 December 2007, Official Report, column 685, we announced an independent review into the loss of RAF Nimrod XV230 in Afghanistan on 2 September 2006. The terms of reference are:
In light of the board of inquiry report: to examine the arrangements for assuring the airworthiness and safe operation of the Nimrod MR2 in the period from its introduction in 1979 to the accident on 2 September 2006, including hazard analysis, the safety case compiled in 2005, maintenance arrangements, and responses to any earlier incidents which might have highlighted the risk and led to corrective action;
To assess where responsibility lies for any failures and what lessons are to be learned;
To assess more broadly the process for compiling safety cases, taking account of best practice in the civilian and military world; and
To make recommendations to the Secretary of State as soon as practicable, if necessary by way of interim report.
This review is still under way.
On 16 April 2007, Official Report, columns 23-26, we announced two reviews of Iran's illegal detention of 15 service personnel.
The first was on operational aspects of the incident including risk and threat assessment, strategic and operational planning, tactical decisions, rules of engagement, training, equipment and resources. The HCDC has been fully briefed on recommendations, and on progress in relation to the full implementation of the resulting action plan. The costs of this review were not collated centrally but were restricted to travel costs.
The terms of reference of the second were:
“To conduct a review of media access to individual personnel involved in operations, particularly in such high-profile incidents. The review is to draw on all relevant experience, including recent incidents and other high-profile incidents; consider how best to manage the complex issues at play, including in balancing our responsibilities to support our people and their families, to safeguard the security of our people and operations, to protect the reputation of the services, and to meet the requirements of transparency in a demanding media environment; and identify lessons and make recommendations for any necessary changes in policy, regulations, processes and practice, including in relation to media payments to our personnel.”
Where costs have been provided they do not include the staff costs of MOD personnel seconded to the review team.
The Government's response, accepting all the review's recommendations, was announced on 19 June 2007, Official Report, column 1255. The costs of this review were £7,200.
On 30 November 2004, Official Report, column 500, we announced an independent review into the deaths of four soldiers at Deepcut barracks between 1995 and 2002. The terms of reference were:
Urgently to review the circumstances surrounding the deaths of four soldiers at Princess Royal Barracks, Deepcut between 1995 and 2002 in light of available material and any representations that might be made in this regard, and to produce a report.
The total cost of the review was £866,980. The Government's response was announced on 13 June 2006, Official Report, column 637W. Since then, Dr. Susan Atkins has been appointed as the first Service Complaints Commissioner, and a new service complaints process came into effect on 1 January 2008.
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