HC Deb 11 July 1991 vol 194 cc487-8W
Mr. O'Neill

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is the current number of staff in the Army resettlement employment liaison cell, the titles and grades of staff attached to the cell and its current average annual running cost.

Mr. Archie Hamilton

The Army resettlement employment liaison cell comprises one lieutenant colonel, who is the senior employment liaison officer, assisted by one major, one executive officer and two administrative assistants. Annual running costs are of the order of £200,000.

Mr. O'Neill

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what amount of funding has been provided to the Officers Association and the Regular Forces Employment Association in each year since 1970.

Mr. Archie Hamilton

The funding provided to the Officers' Association and the Regular Forces Employment Association in each year since 1970 was as follows:

Year Officers' Association £ Regular Forces Employment Association £
1970–71 27,500 15,100
1971–72 27,500 18,700
1972–73 27,800 38,800
1973–74 40,866 43,500
1974–75 44,538 52,780
1975–76 47,400 76,000
1976–77 63,960 91,000
1977–78 72,098 98,700
1978–79 86,214 146,500
1979–80 65,694 193,800
1980–81 72,379 241,000
1981–82 88,694 263,600
1982–83 96,331 323,600
1983–84 97,261 359,400
1984–85 103,748 399,400
1985–86 111,841 415,800
1986–87 128,000 431,140
1987–88 132,800 453,400
1988–89 117,000 496,100
1989–90 141,120 523,600
1990–91 155,400 557,600
11991–92 200,700 605,300
1 Forecast.

Mr. O'Neill

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether he will make it his policy to increase(a) the size of the Army resettlement employment liaison cell and (b) the level of funding provided to the Officers Association and the Regular Forces Employment Association.

Mr. Archie Hamilton

The size of the Army resettlement employment liaison cell, which is part of the tri-service resettlement organisation employment unit, and the level of MOD grant to the Officers Association and the Regular Forces Employment Association are kept under review in the light of the demand on their services. The MOD will be discussing with both associations the level of funding necessary in the light of "Options for Change".