§ Mr. Austin Mitchellasked the Secretary of State for Defence, further to his written reply dated 17 November, Official Report, c. 543, concerning the number and cost of transport units in support of the Army, whether he will publish a table in the Official Report showing for each class of unit in, respectively, the United Kingdom and overseas, the number of personnel per load-carrying vehicle, the average number of vehicle-miles run per load-carrying vehicle in 1982–83 and the average tonne or passenger miles per vehicle as the case may be.
§ Mr. StanleyField force transport units are manned at a ratio of 1.6 Regular Army drivers per vehicle: the Territorial Army are scaled at two drivers per vehicle. The average driver-to-vehicle ratio in static units is 0.7 drivers per vehicle, reflecting the use of self-drive vehicles on a pool basis, where possible, in order to economise on manpower.
639WExamples of the average mileage run per vehicle in 1982–83 are as follows:
Class of vehicle and average mileage per task vehicle
Ser 1
A Field Force Transport Regiment in the United Kingdom —8,500 miles.
Ser 2
A Field Force Transport Regiment in BAOR—7,800 miles.
Ser 3
A Transport Squadron in the United Kingdom (Static Unit) —14,800 miles
Ser 4
A Transport Squadron in BAOR—7,800 miles.
Comparable figures for average mileage per vehicle are not available for Territorial Army units, which make use of vehicles on a pool basis for economy reasons; and data for individual units are not separately recorded.
No figures are kept for load-carrying vehicles only, nor do we record details of passengers or freight carried in road vehicles.
§ Mr. Austin Mitchellasked the Secretary of State for Defence, further to the written reply of 17 November, Official Report, column 543, concerning the number and cost of transport units in support of the Army, whether he will publish in the Official Report a table showing (a) the number and type of vehicles employed in each case, (b) the breakdown of costs to show the amount spent in each case broken down into pay, other emoluments,
Ser. and Class of Unit Pay and Pensions Allowances etc Accommodation and related costs Vehicle Operating Costs less Manpower Costs Other Overheads Depreciation of Vehicles Totals £m £m £m £m £m £m 1. A Field Force Transport Regiment in the United Kingdom 5.73 1.08 1.12 1.15 0.53 9.61 2. A Field Force Transport Regiment in BAOR 5.82 1.11 1.20 0.84 0.56 9.53 3. A Transport Squadron in the United Kingdom 0.66 0.12 0.27 0.13 0.21 1.39 4. A Transport Squadron in BAOR 1.72 0.32 0.31 0.23 0.15 2.76 5. A TA Transport Regiment 1.35 0.66 0.29 0.70 0.64 3.64 This table includes costs for the depreciation of vehicles based on current net replacement value. Details are not available on an historic or current cost accounting basis, and to obtain such information would involve disproportionate cost.
§ Mr. Austin Mitchellasked the Secretary of State for Defence, further to the reply of 17 November, Official Report, c. 543, concerning the number and cost of transport units in support of the Army, whether he will
640W
Ser and Class of Unit Majors and Above Captains and Below Warrant Officers Senior NCOs Junior NCOs and Drivers 1. A Field Force Transport Regiment in United Kingdom 8 26 9 57 569 2. A Field Force Transport Regiment in BAOR 6 29 10 66 623 3. A Transport Squadron in United Kingdom 1 2 1 4 31 4. A Transport Squadron in BAOR 1 7 1 16 188 accommodation and related services, other staff over-heads, fuel, and vehicle maintenance and (c) the depreciation of vehicles on an historic and on a current cost accounting basis.
§ Mr. StanleyThe information requested is as follows:
Type of Unit and Vehicles
§ Ser. 1
§ A Field Force Transport Regiment in the United Kingdom —Up to a total of 366 vehicles (4 tonne, 8 tonne, 10 ton.. and 16 tonne cargo and fuel tanker vehicles).
§ Ser. 2.
§ A Field Force Transport Regiment in BAOR—Up to a total of 393 vehicles (including 4 tonne, 5 ton, 8 tonne cargo and fuel tanker vehicles).
§ Ser. 3.
§ A Transport Squadron in United Kingdom—Up to a total of 160 vehicles (various types according to local requirements including mini-buses, buses, and cargo trucks).
§ Ser.4.
§ A Transport Squadron in BAOR — Up to a total of 123 vehicles (including 4 tonne, 5 ton, 8 tonne cargo and fuel tanker vehicles).
§ Ser. 5.
§ A TA Transport Regiment—Up to 150 vehicles in peace, rising to 336 in war. (Including 4 tonne, 8 tonne, 10 ton, and 16 tonne cargo, bulk fuel, and specialist vehicles).
§ Total figures include motor cycles and light vehicles such as landrovers required for command and control.
§ A detailed breakdown of costs showing the amount spent in each case is as follows:
§ publish in the Official Report a table showing by rank the number of regular soldiers in the units in question in the United Kingdom and in the British Army of the Rhine respectively; and how many of these are attached to the Territorial Army.
§ Mr. StanleyThe precise establishment of Regular soldiers in the units in question varies in detail depending upon their role and location, but typical examples are as follows:
641W
Ser and Class of Unit Majors and Above Captains and Below Warrant Officers Senior NCOs Junior NCOs and Drivers 5. A TA Transport Regiment in the United Kingdom 2 2 5 4 1
Royal Ordnance Factories
§ Mr. Fatchettasked the Secretary of State for Defence how many people are currently employed in the royal ordnance factories on a casual basis; and when the policy of casual employment is likely to terminate.
§ Mr. PattieThere are currently 564 casual employees in the royal ordnance factories. A decision on when to resume permanent recruitment will be taken in the light of progress towards the ROFs change of status.
Departmental Land
§ Mr. Foulkesasked the Secretary of State for Defence, further to his reply to the hon. Member for Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley, Official Report, Monday 28 November, what properties in Ayshire he is currently negotiating to lease; for what service and for what purpose they are being acquired; what is the acreage of land involved; and what consultation has taken place with local interests prior to entering into negotiation.
§ Mr. StanleyFor reasons of commercial confidentiality it would not be right to give further details before the negotiations are concluded. If the sites are acquired and if the nature of the proposed development makes it appropiate to consult the local planning authority, we shall do so in accordance with the normal procedures.
Nuclear Disarmament
§ Mr. Strangasked the Secretary of State for Defence if he has received a request from the leaders of the Scottish Churches for a meeting on nuclear disarmament; and what was his reply.
§ Mr. HeseltineI have received and invitation from the Scottish Churches Council to discuss various matters related to the Government's nuclear defence policy. I am offering it an opportunity to put its views to me.
Ethnic Minorities (Departmental Questionnaire)
§ Sir Patrick Wallasked the Secretary of State for Defence what is the objective of the questionnaire on ethnic minorities now circulating in his Department.
§ Mr. PattieThe questionnaire, which is being circulated to all non-industrial Civil Servants in the north-west economic planning region and the county of Avon, is intended to survey the ethnic composition of the staff employed in these regions. The Government announced on 24 March 1983 — [Vol. 39, c.465]— following the successful completion of a pilot survey in Leeds, that they had decided to carry out surveys in these two regions to gain broader experience of ethnic monitoring in the Civil Service.