§ Mr. Matthew TaylorTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list, for each scheme operated by his Department under which loans are available, the objectives of the scheme, the number of unrecovered loans, the total value of unrecovered loans, the average number of unrecovered loans for each year since 1990, the average value of unrecovered loans for each year since 1990 and the annual cost of recovering loans.
§ Mr. AitkenMy Department operates a number of schemes whereby loans may be made available to its civilian staff. These are normally in the form of advances of salary, which are repayable. The schemes are
Season Ticket AdvanceTo assist staff purchase a quarterly or longer season ticket for travel between home and office.Advances for Staff Posted OverseasAn advance of up to three months' gross salary may be paid to assist staff with settling-in expenses on arrival overseas.Holiday AdvancesA salary advance of up to £300 may be made to staff once each year prior to taking annual leave to assist with holiday expenses.House PurchaseWhere all other means of funding have been exhausted up to six months gross pay may be advanced to assist staff purchase property following transfer.Similarly in cases of 'negative equity" and where an out-standing bridging loan exceeds the value of the sale property, advances of up to 12 months' gross salary may be made.The information for 1990 to 1992 is not available in the form requested and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
The number of advances in operation at December 1993 for the current financial year for each scheme and the balance still to be recovered was:
Number of advances Balance outstanding (£) Season ticket advance 6,219 4,083,525 Advances for staff posted overseas 738 1,565,699 Holiday advances 12 3,600 House purchase 1,704 7,069,805 The annual cost of administering the schemes is £35,000 at present price levels.
On duty murder cases involving armed forces Year Personnel involved Charge date Trial date Delay from charging to trial Finding 1974 1 soldier 1974 March 1975 Not available Acquitted 1978 2 soldiers Not available Not available Not available Both acquitted