Mr. O'NeillTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence what information is made available to service personnel who are due to leave the services regarding training opportunities available from non-Ministry of Defence organisations.
§ Mr. Archie HamiltonInformation about pre-release training in the form of external courses sponsored by the Ministry of Defence and attachments to outside organisations is available for resettlement officers; the service resettlement bulletins published about six times a year; a Defence Council instruction issued each year, giving details of the programme of briefings and courses for the following 12 months; and other internal newsletters and publications. Additionally a range of post-release training options is available to former service personnel, including Government-sponsored courses. Information about these is included in the Training Agency booklet208W "Employment Training for Ex-Regulars", copies of which are held by resettlement officers, who are responsible for making personnel aware of its contents. Finally, all personnel attending their final resettlement interview receive copies of the booklet "Employment in Civilian Life" and officers also receive a booklet entitled "Leaving the Services". These booklets, which are both published by the Employment Service, include chapters on occupational training.