Central Defence Staff (Hansard, 31 July 1984)

§ Mr. Trotter
asked the Secretary of State for Defence what will be the number of (a) service and (b) civilian staff of each star rank or its civilian equivalent in the Central Defence Staff and in each of the three individual service staffs before and after the changes to be introduced at the beginning of 1985.

§ Mr. Pattie
The numbers of such posts down to the two-star level are set out in the following tables. Decisions have not yet been taken on the numbers of posts below the two-star level in the new organisation.

(a) Service posts^*

Now Planned

(i) Central Defence Staff

Four-star 1 1

Three-star 2 †4

Two-star 6 12

(ii) Individual Service Staffs

Four-star ‡3 ‡3

Three-star 3 —

Two-star 11 4

^* The figures do not include a number of posts currently reporting to the service vice chiefs of staff (but whose role is not primarily one of policy-making); the headquarters medical staffs (see paragraph 29a of Cmnd. 9315); the principal personnel officers and the principal administrative officers and their staffs, and the staffs who form part of the procurement executive.

† Includes one post in the defence intelligence staff which may be held by a service officer or by a civilian.

‡ The service chiefs of staff.

(b) Civilian posts

Now^* Planned

(i) Central Defence Staff

Four-star — —

Three-star 2 1

Two-star 2 2

^* Includes existing Defence Secretariat posts.

(ii) Individual Service Staffs
The existing three-star posts of deputy under secretary (Navy), (Army) and (Air) will lapse on 2 January, as will the two-star posts of assistant under secretary (naval staff), (general staff) and (air staff), which have both central and single service responsibilities.

§ Mr. Trotter
asked the Secretary of State for Defence what is his estimate of the annual saving in costs to be achieved as a result of the proposed change in the Central Defence Staff and the consequent change in the three service staffs.

§ Mr. Pattie
Reductions in three-star and two-star posts in the central organisation of the Ministry of Defence are set out in Cmnd. 9315. The numbers of posts below that172W level have not yet been finally decided. It is therefore not possible to give an estimate of the total annual savings in costs.

(a) Service posts^*
	Now	Planned
(i) Central Defence Staff
Four-star	1	1
Three-star	2	†4
Two-star	6	12
(ii) Individual Service Staffs
Four-star	‡3	‡3
Three-star	3	—
Two-star	11	4
^* The figures do not include a number of posts currently reporting to the service vice chiefs of staff (but whose role is not primarily one of policy-making); the headquarters medical staffs (see paragraph 29a of Cmnd. 9315); the principal personnel officers and the principal administrative officers and their staffs, and the staffs who form part of the procurement executive.
† Includes one post in the defence intelligence staff which may be held by a service officer or by a civilian.
‡ The service chiefs of staff.

(b) Civilian posts
	Now^*	Planned
(i) Central Defence Staff
Four-star	—	—
Three-star	2	1
Two-star	2	2
^* Includes existing Defence Secretariat posts.