§ Mrs. EwingTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence what specific action he intends to take in those communities to which redundant personnel will return to assist with(a) housing, (b) employment and (c) education.
§ Mr. Archie HamiltonService personnel selected for redundancy are invited to say where they intend to settle when they leave. The replies from those considered for redundancy in phase 1 indicated that resettlement will be widespread across the country and that there should be no significant additional demands on local community resources. Our resettlement services provide service personnel with a wide range of advice and support on housing, employment and education matters.
§ Mrs. EwingTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence what information he has on the number of Army personnel made redundant due to "Options for Change" who have been unemployed for(a) three months or more, (b) six months or more, (c) nine months or more, (d) one year or more and (e) two years or more.
§ Mr. Archie HamiltonNo one left the Army on redundancy before April 1992; but over 70 per cent. of those made redundant during 1992–93 have found jobs or moved overseas.
§ Mrs. EwingTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is his latest estimate of the number of service men who will be made unemployed as a result of "Options for Change".
§ Mr. Archie HamiltonIt is not possible to estimate the number of service personnel who may become unemployed as a result of "Options for Change". Over 70 per cent. of Army personnel who have left on redundancy terms during 1992–93 have found jobs or moved overseas. To date, few naval and RAF personnel selected for redundancy have left the services and it is not yet known whether they have obtained civilian employment.
288W
§ Mrs. EwingTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is(a) the model age and (b) the average age of redundant Army personnel who are currently serving on retraining schemes; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Archie HamiltonInformation is not available in the form requested.
§ Mrs. EwingTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is(a) the model age and (b) the average age of those who are to be made redundant due to "Options for Change"; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Archie HamiltonThe model and average age of personnel who have left or who are leaving the armed forces on redundancy in phases 1 and 2 under "Options for Change" are as follows:
Model Average Officers 50 45 Other ranks 36 35 Total 36 38 Similar information in respect of civilian personnel is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
§ Mrs. EwingTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence what are the costs of retraining schemes offered to service men made redundant due to "Options for Change".
§ Mr. Archie HamiltonResettlement training is provided on a tri-service basis for all those being discharged from the services and makes no distinction between redundees and those who have completed their full engagement. An extensive range of training courses is available and the courses are either conducted in-house at MOD training centres, for which no charge is made, or are run externally on a fee-paying basis by educational and training institutions throughout the United Kingdom.
§ Mrs. EwingTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assistance his Department provides to assist Army personnel in making the transition to civilian life, what special assistance is provided to personnel made redundant; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Archie HamiltonThroughout their service life personnel are trained in skills which are directly transferable to civilian employment and receive further education leading to recognised qualifications. Prior to discharge, extensive counselling, outplacement services and retraining are provided, along with job-finding support through the services employment network. In addition to receiving enhanced financial settlement terms, redundees are eligible for the full package of resettlement briefing and training measures.
§ Mrs. EwingTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is the average time period between Army personnel being made redundant and securing a place on a retraining scheme.
§ Mr. Archie HamiltonResettlement training is provided to service personnel during the last six months of service. Once a date of discharge has been set—those made compulsorily redundant are given one year's notice— 289W personnel can apply immediately for training courses. All personnel can apply for briefings in the last two years of service. In the case of redundees applications are accepted as soon as volunteers have come forward and those made compulsorily redundant are eligible to apply as soon as they have been notified.
Places on briefings or training courses are allocated eight weeks before the start date. Where applications are made at shorter notice they are accepted up to three weeks beforehand where places are available.
There are currently no waiting lists for career briefings or training courses. Following a higher than expected demand for job search briefings additional briefings are being provided.
§ Mrs. EwingTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is the retraining budget for Army personnel made redundant due to "Options for Change"; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Archie HamiltonResettlement training is provided on a tri-service basis to all eligible personnel being discharged from the services. It is not possible to identify separately the costs of retraining Army personnel made redundant.