§ Mr. David ShawTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence what are the requirements for prior training in basic music which apply to bandsmen entering(a) the Royal Marine school of music at Deal, (b) the military music school at Kneller Hall and (c) the Royal Air Force school of music; how many musical instruments bandsmen are fully trained at each of those schools; and to what level of orchestral playing bandsmen are trained at each of those schools.
§ Mr. HanleyThe entry qualifications at each of the three schools is as follows
DealThere is no set musical grade ability requirement. On completion of the normal recruitment procedures and a musical assessment, all entrants are subject to a week long audition which determines388W
£K 1993–94 630 1994–95 1640 1 Estimated for full year.
§ Mr. AingerTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence what are the current restrictions on safety grounds at the gunnery ranges at(a) Shoeburyness and (b) Pendine.
§ Mr. AitkenThe proof and experimental establishment has no nett explosive quantity limitation but of the 20 batteries currently in use only eight can be used at any one time because of safety considerations. PEE Pendine, which has an NEQ limit of 125 kg, has 22 facilities of which up to 12 could be used at any one time.
§ Mr. AingerTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is his best estimate of the capital costs required to facilitate the transfer of small arms and cannon work from proof and experimental establishment, Pendine to Shoeburyness.
§ Mr. AitkenIf the closure of the establishment is confirmed it is planned to place a commercial contract for this work. The estimate of cost is, therefore, commercially confidential. I can confirm, however, that the costs are included, but not separately identified, in the summary investment appraisal, attached to the Director General Test and Evaluation's consultative document.
§ Mr. AingerTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the gross income generated from Government Departments by each of the proof and experimental establishments in each of the last five years.
§ Mr. AitkenThe information requested is as follows
musical ability. Guidance given to RN/RM careers officers is that potential recruits will require a minimum musical standard equivalent to a grade 5.Kneller HallA musician with some experience in bands or orchestras who holds a certificate of the Associated Board of the Royal Schools of Music at grade 8 or equivalent.UxbridgeThe RAF requires potential bandsmen to be of a minimum Grade 8 Associated Board standard in one instrument. It is current practice, however, to recruit musicians direct from music college/University.The numbers of bandsmen who undertake basic bandsmen training at the three establishments are as follows:
- Deal — 15–0 per annum (Note 1)
- Kneller Hall — 100 per annum (Note 2)
- Uxbridge — Nil
The levels of orchestral playing to which bandsmen are training at each of the schools is as follows:389W
Deal Musicians: Performance Diploma Sergeant: Pre-course to LRSM Bandmaster: LRSM Kneller Hall Musicians: O-A Level, GCSE/Diploma Sergeants: A Level, GCSE/Diploma Serg Majors: Diploma Bandmaster: Diploma/Degree Director of Music: Advanced Diploma/Degree Uxbridge The structure of further musical training at RAF Uxbridge enables bandsmen to attain a high level of orchestral playing. Notes:
1. In addition, some 10–5 Corporals, Sergeants and Bandmasters also undertake further musical training at Deal each year on courses of varying length.
2. In addition, around 100 Sergeants, Sergant Majors, Bandmasters and Directors of Music undertake further musical training at Kneller Hall each year on courses of varying length.
§ Mr. David ShawTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence if the proposal to move the Royal Marines school of music from Deal has been fully appraised in accordance with commitment by the then permanent secretary at the Ministry of Defence set out in paragraph 510 on page 7 of the "11th Report of the Committee of Public Accounts for Session 1985–86"; and if he will publish the investment appraisal.
§ Mr. HanleyA full appraisal has been made of the proposal to transfer the training of Royal Marine musicians from Deal, in accordance with the commitment by the then permanent secretary. A consultation document setting out the options considered and the rationale for our proposals will be issued as soon as possible. Except for commercially sensitive details, this will include all relevant financial information.
§ Mr. David ShawTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence what proposals he has to shorten the training of Royal Marines bandsmen from the present period of two years and eight months.
§ Mr. HanleyAs indicated in the defence cost report "Front Line First", further work is in hand to establish whether there is scope to conduct the initial training of military musicians through bursary or scholarship schemes at civilian colleges of music. This could be expected to have implications for the duration of training.
§ Mr. David ShawTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will conduct an investment appraisal to determine the savings to the Exchequer resulting from the intelligence centre moving to the marine barracks at Deal assuming(a) the Royal Marines school of music remains at Deal with the intelligence centre and (b) a combined defence school of music is set up at Deal with the intelligence centre.
§ Mr HanleyAs announced in the report on the outcome of "Front Line First", we intend to transfer Royal Marines music training from Deal by 1 April 1996. Further work is in hand on the future requirement, and on possible locations for a defence school of music. The role of the defence intelligence centre, and the suitability of its current location, is being examined in the context of the continuing study into defence intelligence, which is being carried out under "Front Line First".
§ Mr. David ShawTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence what were the requirements in terms of(a) training on a second instrument and (b) orchestral training for the bandsmen who played on board the royal yacht 390W Britannia and for heads of state at the recent D-day commemorations; and which military school of music provides these requirements.
§ Mr. HanleyAll members of the Royal Marines band service are currently trained at Deal and are required to learn a military band instrument and an orchestral instrument. The members of the Royal Yacht band are drawn from the Royal Marines band Portsmouth and are able to perform as a marching band, a concert band, a dance band and as an orchestra.
§ Mr. David ShawTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the consultation procedure to be followed in relation to proposals involving the future of the Royal Marines school of music at Deal; if he will list and place in the Library the investment appraisals which(a) have been carried out and (b) are to be carried out; and if he will make available accounting and other relevant information concerning (i) retaining the Royal Marines school of music in Deal and (ii) establishing a defence school of music in Deal.
§ Mr. HanleyThe proposal to transfer the training of Royal Marines musicians from Deal will be subject to the same consultative period applicable to the whole series of "Front Line First" initiatives which my right hon. and learned Friend the Secretary of State for Defence announced to the House on 14 July 1994; this lasts until 14 October. The proposal has resulted from a detailed study of the current costs of military music provision and music training in all three services. Further work is in hand to establish whether there is scope to conduct the initial training of military musicians through bursary or scholarship schemes at civilian colleges of music.