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Column 481
RAF LeemingRAF Leuchars
RAF Lindholme
RAF Linton-on-Ouse
RAF Locking
RAF Lossiemouth
RAF Lyneham
RAF Machrihanish
RAF Manston
RAF Marham
RAF Mount Batten
RAF Neatishead
RAF Newton
RAF North Luffenham
RAF Northolt
RAF Oakhanger
RAF Odiham
RAF Pembray Sands
RAF Pitreavie Castle
RAF Portreath
RAF Quedgeley
RAF Rosehearty
RAF Rudloe Manor
RAF St. Athan
RAF St. Mawgan
RAF Saxa Vord
RAF Scampton
RAF Sealand
RAF Shawbury
RAF Spadeadam
RAF Stafford
RAF Stanbridge
RAF Stanmore Park
RAF Staxton Wold
RAF Stornoway
RAF Swanton Morley
RAF Swinderby
RAF Tain
RAF Turnhouse
RAF Upavon
RAF Uxbridge
RAF Valley
RAF Waddington
RAF Wainfleet
RAF Wattisham
RAF Watton
RAF West Drayton
Column 482
RAF West RaynhamRAF Wittering
RAF Woodvale
RAF Wroughton
RAF Wyton
(b) overseas
RAF Akrotiri
RAF Ascension Island
RAF Belize
RAF Bruggen
RAF Gatow
RAF Gibraltar
RAF Gutersloh
RAF Laarbruch
RAF Mount Pleasant
RAF Nordhorn
RAF Rhendahlen
RAF Sek Kong
RAF Troodos
RAF Wegberg
RAF Wildenrath
Manning Levels
Mr. Brazier : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will publish with the Statement on the Defence Estimates the current and planned totals for (a) three-star posts, (b) two-star posts and (c) one-star posts, distinguishing military and civil posts, and distinguishing for military posts between command and staff appointments and for civilian posts between scientific-engineering posts and administrative ones.
Mr. Archie Hamilton : Much work still has to be done to establish the future requirement for starred posts. As my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State informed my hon. Friend the Member for Wimbledon (Dr. Goodson-Wickes) on 4 July, at column 213, it is planned to reduce the uniformed and civilian top structure in headquarters by about 20 per cent. Related reductions will be made throughout the services and among civilian staff. The current number of posts, and the corresponding data for 1990, is as follows. The figures do not include officers undergoing training, on handovers or on terminal leave.
Column 481
1 April 1990 1 April 1991
|Command|Staff |Command|Staff
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Royal Navy
Vice Admiral |9 |3 |9 |3
Rear Admiral |18 |17 |17 |17
Commodore/Senior Captain |36 |50 |36 |51
Royal Marines
Lt. General |1 |0 |1 |2
Major General |1 |2 |1 |2
Brigadier/Colonel |2 |6 |2 |7
Army
Lt. General |5 |4 |6 |4
Major General |22 |37 |22 |39
Brigadier |97 |110 |99 |107
Royal Air Force
Air Marshal |5 |4 |5 |5
Air Vice Marshal |9 |28 |10 |28
Air Commodore |24 |86 |22 |82
Civilian |Admin. |Sc/Eng.|Admin. |Sc/Eng.
Grade 2 |6 |5 |6 |4
Grade 3 |30 |28 |29 |25
Grade 4 |12 |12 |12 |9
Grade 5 |133 |126 |130 |120
Column 483
International Military Services Ltd.
Mr. Cohen : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is the current position with regard to the closure of International Military Services Ltd. ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Alan Clark : It has been decided that International Military Services Limited is to cease trading on 31 July 1991, but the company will remain in being until all its current obligations are discharged.
Civil Servants
Mr. O'Neill : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his reply of 4 July to the hon. Member for Wimbledon (Dr. Goodson-Wickes), (1) whether he has any plans to offer civil servants premature voluntary release packages as part of his plans to reduce the number of MOD civil service staff ;
(2) what are the grades of civil service jobs that are due to be eliminated, and the numbers in each grade ;
(3) whether he has plans to make compulsory redeployments of MOD civil servants ;
(4) what plans he has to make MOD civil servants redundant ; and if he will make a statement ;
(5) what discussions he has had with civil service trade unions regarding his planned reductions in the size of the civil service ; (6) what agreements have been reached with civil service trade unions regarding his planned reductions in the size of the civil service ;
(7) what plans he has to allow MOD civil servants to transfer to other areas of the civil service.
Mr. Alan Clark : On 4 July representatives of the departmental trades unions were informed about our plans for a reduction in the size of the MOD headquarters. The trade unions were invited to comment on the plans in accordance with agreed consultative procedures. They are also being consulted about reductions in civilian staff outside headquarters under "Options for Change", as our plans develop. It is intended to bring about the required reduction in numbers by a variety of means, including a reduction in recruitment, natural wastage, transfer to other Government Departments if possible, and voluntary early retirement. Where necessary, civil servants in mobile grades will be expected to honour their mobility obligation. Everything possible will be done to avoid compulsory redundancy, though this may not be possible for all grades. Further work is continuing to identify the precise numbers and grades affected.
Conventional Forces in Europe
Mr. O'Neill : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what decisions have been made regarding the method and timing of reductions in British treaty-limited items of military equipment that are due to take place as part of the CFE treaty ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Archie Hamilton : Reduction of United Kingdom treaty-limited equipment--tanks and armoured combat vehicles--will be carried out by explosive demolition, as described in the protocol on reduction. The necessary reductions will be completed within 40 months of the treaty coming into force, as specified in the treaty.
Column 484
Service Redundancies
Mr. O'Neill : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether he will make it his policy to extend the 28-day training period for personnel leaving the services.
Mr. Archie Hamilton : We are reviewing future resettlement provision. I cannot anticipate the outcome of the review.
Mr. O'Neill : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his reply of 2 July, Official Report, column 136, to the hon. Member for Swindon (Mr. Coombs), if he will provide further details on the nature of the advice and counselling given to those leaving the services.
Mr. Archie Hamilton : Personnel may seek advice from their units resettlement or education officers at any time during their careers, and there is also provision for more formal interviews during the last 18 months of service. The guidance provided in these ways is intended to inform personnel about the opportunities and problems likely to be encountered in making the transition to civilian life and, more specifically, about the range of resettlement briefings and training options that are available. The briefings are organised on a collective basis at various locations, and cover such matters as applying for a job ; specific civilian careers ; life in different regions ; and other facets of civilian life, such as purchasing a home and managing one's finances. Such briefings last one or two days, and personnel may attend a number of them, in addition to the 28-day training period.
RAF Closures
Mr. O'Neill : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) what is the strategic rationale behind the disbandment of No. 16, No. 58 and No 63 squadrons RAF Regiment ;
(2) what is the strategic rationale behind the closure of (a) RAF Hullavington, (b) No. 7 flying training school at RAF Church Fenton and (c) RAF Abingdon.
Mr. Archie Hamilton : I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave my hon. Friend the Member for Ruislip-Northwood (Mr. Wilkinson) on 2 July, at column 138, and to the "Statement on the Defence Estimates 1991".
Operation Granby (Injuries)
Mr. O'Neill : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is the current number of service personnel being treated for physical injuries or illnesses resulting either wholly or partially from Operation Granby.
Mr. Archie Hamilton : This information could not be obtained without disproportionate cost.
Mr. O'Neill : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many service personnel have had some form of treatment for physical injuries or illnesses resulting either wholly or partially from Operation Granby.
Mr. Archie Hamilton : I refer the hon. Gentleman to paragraph 7 of the box entitled "Medical Support" at page 19 of volume 1 of the "Statement on the Defence Estimates 1991"--Cm. 1559-1.
Column 485
Racial Harassment
Mr. O'Neill : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his answer of 2 July, Official Report , column 133, what action has been taken as a result of the complaints of racial harassment recorded in 1988, 1989, 1990 and 1991 ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Archie Hamilton : All complaints of racial harassment which came to the attention of Ministry of Defence headquarters during the years 1988, 1989, 1990 and, to date, in 1991 were investigated and the results were as follows :
|Complaints |Punishment |Complaints
|substantiated |unsubstantiated
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1988 |1 |2 offenders fined |<2>3
1989 |1 |<1>1 offender fined|3
1990 |- |- |<3>3
<4>1991 |- |- |1
<1>All fined for common assault.
<2>Includes 2 complaints subsequently withdrawn.
<3>Includes 1 complaint subsequently withdrawn.
<4>1991 to date.
Recruitment
Mr. O'Neill : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will provide a breakdown by region of recruiting figures to the British Army.
Mr. Archie Hamilton : I will write to the hon. Member.
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