Redundancies (Hansard, 25 July 1991)

Mr. O'Neill
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what redundancy terms he plans to offer to those service personnel who are made redundant as a result of "Options for Change".

§ Mr. Archie Hamilton
I refer the hon. Gentleman to the reply that I gave on 23 July to the hon. Member for Edmonton (Dr. Twinn). Redundancy terms are the same for all three services and are embodied, for the Royal Navy, in Orders in Council; for the Army, in part 9 of the Army pensions warrant; and for the Royal Air Force in chapter 46 of Queen's Regulations (Royal Air Force).

§ Dr. Twinn
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what plans he has for handling redundancy in the services and among Ministry of Defence United Kingdom-based civil servants; and if he will make a statement.
929W

§ Mr. Archie Hamilton
I refer my hon. Friend to "Britain's Army for the '90s" (Cm. 1595), which has been published today. Details of Army redundancies are set out in paragraphs 39 to 42.
As to redundancies in the other two services, the Royal Navy judges that there may be a measure of redundancy among officers and ratings, mainly at more senior levels. Subject to further assessment of the numbers involved, it is hoped to achieve these by voluntary redundancy, some late in 1992–93, with the majority subsequently. Some compulsory redundancies might be necessary to complete the programme.
No decisions have yet been taken about RAF redundancies, but it is considered that redundancies among airmen are unlikely, with the possible exception of a small number of senior NCOs in a few trades. In the case of RAF officers, some measure of redundancy at squadron leader level and above may be necessary over the period to the mid-1990s, but it is hoped to keep this to a minimum. The terms and conditions of RN and RAF redundancy will be same as those for the Army.
On current plans about 20,000 United Kingdom-based civil service posts will be reduced over the period 1991–92 to 1996–97. To the greatest extent possible, this reduction will be achieved by natural wastage, early retirement and redeployment. However, there will inevitably be some redundancies, particularly among industrial and non-mobile staff. Numbers will to some extent depend upon which establishments are closed and on the timing. Redundancies will be handled under the Ministry of Defence redundancy agreement. Redundancy compensa-tion is paid under the principal civil service payment scheme.