§ Mr. Bob RussellTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) if the Defence Review will cover the Defence Postal and Courier Services of the Royal Logistic Corps; how many commissioned ranks there are in the Defence Postal and Courier Services; what is the number in each rank; and what are the corresponding figures for an average line regiment; [6768]
(2) how many disciplinary cases within the Defence Postal and Courier Services have been initiated by military line management against civilian Defence couriers in each of the past 10 years; [6769]
(3) for what reason civilian staff in the Defence Postal and Courier Services have been replaced by serving military personnel; and how many posts which fell vacant in the past two years were filled by serving military personnel instead of civilian (service retired) personnel. [6767]
§ Mr. SpellarThis is a matter for the Chief Executive of the Defence Postal and Courier Services. I have asked the Chief Executive to write to the hon. Member.
Letter front T. McG Brown to Mr. Bob Russell, dated 9 July 1997:
I have been asked to reply to your three Parliamentary Questions to the Secretary of State for Defence regarding staffing and other matters related to the Defence Postal and Courier Service. As Chief Executive of the Defence Postal and Courier Services Agency (DPCSA) I am responsible for the management within my Agency and I am therefore providing the details you have requested.Taking each question in turn:1. "For what reason civilian staff in the Defence Postal and Courier Service have been replaced by serving military personnel; and how many posts which fell vacant in the past two years were filled by serving military personnel instead of civilian (service retired) personnel?Overall, no civilian posts falling vacant in the last two years have been filled with military personnel. It is in fact the case that a number of military posts have been filled by civilians.2. "How many disciplinary cases within the Defence Postal and Courier Service have been initiated by military line management against civilian Defence Couriers in each of the past 10 years?The management of the Defence Courier Service, which is a part of DPCSA, rests with military personnel. As all disciplinary cases are initiated by line management all cases against civilian Defence Couriers have therefore been initiated by military personnel. There have been 25 cases initiated in the past 10 years. The breakdown by year, from available records, is as follows:
- 1987: 2
- 1990: 1
- 1991: 3
- 1995: 9
- 1996: 5
- 1997: 5
Records are readily available only for those presently employed or who have recently left.3. "Will the Defence Review cover the Defence Postal and Courier Service of the Royal Logistic Corps; how many commissioned ranks there are in the Defence Postal and Courier Service; what is the number of each rank; and what are the corresponding figures for an average line regiment?488WThe Review will be wide ranging and all aspects of defence will be considered in this process. In addition to issues of policy and strategy, the Review will look at how we should get the best possible output from defence resources and the contribution of our defence effort to the wider economy. As part of the MOD, the Defence Postal and Courier Service will no doubt be included in this review.The number of commissioned ranks within the DPCSA, an average Infantry Line Regiment (which is not easy to define) and a typical RLC regiment is as follows:
DPCSA Average ILR General service regiment RLC Brigadier 1 0 0 Colonel 2 0 0 Lt. Colonel 5 1 1 Major 9 9 8 Captain 7 11 21 Lieutenant/2nd Lt. 0 14 10 24 35 40 I hope this information is helpful.