§ Mr. HicksTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence what was the cost to public funds, excluding capital projects, of RN college, Dartmouth; and if he will list the nature and number of the courses provided, the number of officers, ratings and students involved in these courses and the average annual occupancy of the resident accommodation at the college for each of the past three years for which figures are available. [34218]
§ Mr. SoamesThis matter is for the Naval Recruiting and Training Agency under its framework document. I have asked the chief executive to write to the hon. Member.
Letter front A. D. Ferguson to Mr. Robert Hicks, dated 18 July 1995:
The Secretary of State for Defence has asked the Chief Executive of the Naval Recruiting and Training Agency to reply to your 1182W Parliamentary Question about the cost to public funds, excluding capital projects, of Britannia Royal Naval College (BRNC), Dartmouth and the nature and number of the courses provided, the number of officers, ratings and students involved in these courses and the average annual occupancy of the resident accommodation at the college for each of the past three years for which figures are available. I am replying in the absence of the Chief Executive.The Cash Costs of BRNC Dartmouth, excluding Capital Costs, Sea Training costs and VAT, for the Financial Years' 1993/94 to 1995/96 is as follows:
- 1993–94: £11.8M
- 1994–95: £11.2M
- 1995–96: £11.3M
BRNC Dartmouth provides 22 Courses, instructed by 28 RN Officers, 28 Civilian Lecturers and 17 RN Ratings (excluding Support Staff). Information relating to Students is now only available for 1994/95 and 1995/96. This data, together with the list of College courses, is as follows:
Student Intake 1994–95 1995–96 Naval General Training Course 127 125 SD Officers Pre-Qualifying Course 26 49 Naval Studies Course 100 39 Flight Academic Course 36 34 International Young Officers' Course 58 42 International Sub Lieutenant's Course 16 18 Modular Graduates Course 55 40 Consolidation Course 1(21) 0 Short Introductory Course 29 22 Naval Aircrew Training Course 24 4 Royal Naval Reserve Course 25 29 RM Young Officers' Acquaint Course 162 68 Careers Officers Course 0 0 University Royal Naval Unit Course 48 105 Potential Officer Course 82 130 Combined Cadets/Sea Cadets 375 242 Undergraduates' Language Course 15 58 Undergraduates' Academic Course 13 2 Undergraduates' Strategic Studies Course 12 8 Surgeon S/Lt Naval Introductory Course 0 19 Bursars' Acquaint Course 27 21 Engineering Sponsorship Scheme Acquaint 0 0 1 Included in NGT Course. The average annual occupancy of the resident accommodation at the college since 1992/93 is as follows:
- 1992–93: 99.7% of capacity
- 1993–94: 91% of capacity
- 1994–95: 68% of capacity
In the context of student throughput, you will also wish to be aware that the Agency is developing initiatives with private industry and academic institutions to market the unallocated irreducible training capacity that exists at the shore training establishments which is caused by fluctuating recruiting levels.