§ Mr. Alfred MorrisTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make it his policy to maintain at its present annual value the provision under the armed forces individual resettlement refund scheme for service men and women to participate in a self development education scheme to prepare them for return to civilian life. [15107]
§ Mr. SoamesThe three services are keen for their personnel to participate in self-development education schemes. Two key measures by which service men and women are encouraged and assisted to obtain recognised skills and qualifications that will help them in their transition to civilian life are the individual refund scheme and the individual resettlement training costs grant.
The IRS allows service personnel to claim a refund of a significant proportion of the fees for approved education—personal development courses each year throughout their service. IRS may also be used specifically for resettlement purposes within the last 30 months of service. The regulations under which the IRS may be claimed were broadened in 1996 to accommodate a wider range of educational and vocational awards such as national vocational qualifications.
The IRTC scheme provides eligible personnel with a source of funding for resettlement purposes—for example training courses of up to four weeks—undertaken in the last nine months of an individual's service. IRS and IRTC may not be used together during the final year, unless IRS is used to help fund an examination fee for a recognised qualification in civilian life.
We have no plans at present to revise the value of these grants but, as with all aspects of the defence budget, they are subject to review to ensure that they continue to serve their purpose in the most cost-effective manner.