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19 Nov 2008 : Column 498W—continued
As well as being assessed for its grade for charge, all single living accommodation (SLA) is also separately assessed for its physical condition and ‘scale’, as defined in Joint Service Publication 319 which is available to view at
This methodology, which excludes environmental and location factors, is considered a better indicator of the physical condition of the accommodation.
As at June 2008, overseas SLA bed-spaces were at the following grade.
| Grade 1 | Grade 2 | Grade 3 | Grade 4 | |||||
| Country | Number | Percentage | Number | Percentage | Number | Percentage | Number | Percentage |
We accept that some service accommodation is not of a standard that our service personnel and their families deserve and steps are being taken to address this. Over the next decade £8.4 billion will be spent on accommodation, of which over £3 billion will be on improving and upgrading accommodation.
Departmental Manpower
Mr. Gibb: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence pursuant to the answer of 29 October 2008, Official Report, column 1032W, how many staff in his Department are receiving full salaries without being allocated work. [234420]
Mr. Kevan Jones: As at 5 November 2008, there were some 525 MOD civil servants who were in the civilian redeployment pool because their substantive posts had reached an end, or because they were returning from overseas or extended absence. A further 446 were in the redeployment pool because their posts were due to end within six months. Those staff receive preferential consideration for posts. While in the redeployment pool, staff whose substantive posts have ended remain in their posts, for which they continue to receive their normal salaries. They continue to be funded and managed by their previous management, who assist them with their development and job search and employ them on appropriate temporary tasks. As I explained in my answer on 21 October, Official R eport, column 191W, while there may exceptionally be occasions where such temporary work is not available, that situation is continuously changing and is not recorded centrally.
David Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many staff in his Department did not achieve an acceptable assessment grade in their annual report in the latest reporting year for which figures are available. [235227]
Mr. Kevan Jones: For the 2007-08 reporting year 93 MOD civilian staff were recorded as not receiving a performance award due to unsatisfactory work performance that was subject to the Department's restoring efficiency procedures.
This figure excludes MOD trading funds and agencies and does not include specialist occupational groups such as teachers, NHS grades, fire fighters and policeman, for whom records are not held centrally.
Departmental NDPBs
Mr. Jeremy Browne: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the remit is of each non-departmental public body sponsored by his Department; and what budget each has been set for (a) 2008-09, (b) 2009-10 and (c) 2010-11. [236920]
Mr. Kevan Jones: The remit of each of the non-departmental public bodies sponsored by the MOD can be found in the supplementary document on NDPBs to the MOD annual report and accounts 2007-08, which can be found on the MOD internet site at the following link:
I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave him on 30 October 2008, Official Report, column 1230W, in respect of funding of Executive NDPBs. The advisory NDPBs sponsored by the Department incur little or no expenditure and are resourced from within the Department.
European Carrier Group Interoperability Initiative
Dr. Fox: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will place in the Library a copy of the Declaration of Intent with EU Partners on the European Carrier Group Interoperability Initiative. [235432]
Mr. Quentin Davies: I shall place a copy of the Declaration of Intent in the Library of the House.
Future Large Aircraft: Safety
Mr. Gerald Howarth: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether a fuel inerting gas system will be fitted to the UK A400M fleet. [237069]
Mr. Quentin Davies: Yes, with the exception of one development aircraft that will either be retro-fitted with fuel-tank inerting at a later date, or if this proves impossible, excluded from use in areas of significant operational threat.
Future Surface Combatant
Dr. Julian Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the future roles are projected for each variant of the Future Surface Combatant. [235629]
Mr. Quentin Davies [holding answer 17 November 2008]: It is currently planned that the Future Surface Combatant will replace and build on the capabilities of the T22 and T23 frigates. The programme is still in the concept phase, and the requirements for numbers and variants have not yet been finalised. The future roles to be undertaken by FSC have yet to be fully defined but will be coherent with the capabilities called for in the 2004 Defence White Paper, ‘Delivering Security in a Changing World, Future Capabilities’ (Cm 6269).
Military Aircraft
Mr. Lancaster: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence which close air support capabilities provided by Harriers are not able to be provided by Tornados. [236789]
Mr. Kevan Jones: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave him on 10 November 2008, Official Report, column 775W.
Military Aircraft: Training
Mr. Gerald Howarth: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how much live training with submarines have (a) Merlin HM MK1 and (b) Nimrod MR2 crews have undertaken in each month of the last three years. [237070]
Mr. Kevan Jones: The amount of time spent live training by Merlin HM MKl and Nimrod MR2 crews with submarines over the last three years has been recorded as follows:
| Merlin HM MKl | |||
| Hours:Minutes | |||
| 2006 | 2007 | 2008 | |
| Nimrod MR2 | |||
| Hours:Minutes | |||
| 2006 | 2007 | 2008 | |
These figures do not reflect operational flying or airborne synthetic anti-submarine warfare training.
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