HC Deb 07 February 2000 vol 344 cc28-9W
Mr. Menzies Campbell

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he would(a) list the MoD funding received by the Army Welfare Service as separate from the Personal Welfare Service in each year between and including financial year 1996–97 and the current financial year, (b) provide an explanation of the remit and function of the AWS, (c) list the MoD funding received by the Personal Welfare Service as separate from the Army Welfare Service in each year between and including financial year 1996–97 and the current financial year, (d) provide an explanation of the remit and function of the PWS and (e) provide an explanation for the change in the combined AWS/PWS budget allocation and spend between financial year 1998–99 and 1999–00. [108094]

Mr. Spellar

Although the Army Welfare Service (AWS) has been operating since 1996, records of total expenditure have only been recorded since centralising funding was established on 1 April 1999. Expenditure for the AWS before 1999–2000 therefore could only be provided at disproportionate cost. A breakdown of funding between the AWS and the Personal Welfare Service (PWS) is provided for 1999–2000. Figures for 1996–97 to 1998–99 are for the PWS in Northern Ireland only.

Year/Organisation Spend Allocation
1996–97
PWS 87,165 88,000
1997–98
PWS 87,368 90,000
1998–99
PWS 88,002 90,000
1999–2000
AWS 5,941,000 6,528,000
PWS 181,000 199,000
1 Spend to date

The AWS's mission is to provide a comprehensive, professionally based and confidential welfare support service responsive to the needs of individuals, the chain of command and statutory requirements, in order to maximise the operational effectiveness of service men and women.

The AWS provides support for soldiers and their families in recognition of the greater turbulence, and a lack of the wider family support resulting from military service. The AWS supports Commanding Officers by developing a long term static welfare infrastructure at garrison and station level through which units can move with the assurance of expert welfare assistance and advice that is complementary to, and integrated with, civil agencies whose help can be drawn upon when required.

MoD policy adopts and reflects UK national legislation for its Service community overseas. In the welfare area this means that the AWS, using the Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen and Families Association (SSAFA) Forces Help personnel, is given the same statutory responsibilities with regard to the protection of children as those of local authority social service departments. The AWS also uses other specialist agencies, such as RELATE and HomeStart, to provide specific assistance.

The PWS provides comparable services in Northern Ireland.