Selection Procedures (Hansard, 6 August 1976)

§ Mr. Ward
asked the Secretary of State for Defence whether he will consider holding joint selection procedures for the Services to save expenditure on fees and expenses of those manning the panels and the time and subsistence costs of applicants who often apply to all three Services.

§ Mr. Duffy
The differing roles and circumstances of the three Services oblige them to place emphasis on different qualities in selecting applicants, and this calls for separate selection panels composed of men and women with relevant professional experience. Colocation of the three officer selection centres could well prove to be more expensive than to continue with existing single Service facilities, given the likely high cost of acquiring suitable tri-Service premises. My hon. Friend's suggestion will, however, be borne in mind.

§ Mr. Ward
asked the Secretary of State for Defence what is the scale of fees and subsistence payments to non-Service personnel invited to join selection panels for officer recruits; and what abatement of allowance is made where free board and accommodation is afforded panel members in an officers' mess.

§ Mr. Duffy
Non-Service personnel invited to join officer selection panels receive, in addition to travel expenses, a fee of between £12 and £17 per day and a subsistence allowance of £13.40 per day. Where accommodation is provided by the Services the subsistence allowance is 50 per cent. of this figure, from which costs incurred in the mess must be defrayed.

§ Mr. Ward
asked the Secretary of State for Defence how many selection panels 1057W for officer recruits were held in the last year for which statistics are available; how many applicants were interviewed; how many were accepted; and what was the cost of the operation of the panels.

§ Mr. Duffy
In the 12 months ended 31st December 1975, 369 groups of applicants were tested and interviewed by the three Service establishments concerned. A total of 6,903 applicants were involved, of whom 1,517 were recommended for acceptance. Figures of costs for the operation of the selection panels are not readily available.