HC Deb 03 March 1995 vol 255 cc750-3W
Mr. Byers

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many two-star officers and above are entitled to a dedicated staff car and driver; where the officers are based; what make of car is provided; and what is the total annual cost in salaries, maintenance and car replacement.

Mr. Soames

[pursuant to his answer, 22 February 1995, Official Report, c. 252–55]: At two-star rank and above, there are currently 109 posts in the armed forces and my Department, including civilians, who are entitled to a dedicated staff car and driver. These are:

Number Post Location
Posts open to more than one service
5* posts
1 Chief of the Defence Staff London
2 Chair of the Military Committee Brussels
4* posts
3 Vice Chief of Defence Staff London
3* posts
4 United Kingdom Military Representative Brussels
5 Deputy Chief of Defence Staff (Commitments) London
6 Deputy Chief of Defence Staff (Personnel and Programmes) London
7 Deputy Chief of Defence Staff (Systems) London
8 Chief of Defence Intelligence London
9 Surgeon General London
10 Commandant Royal College of Defence Studies London
2* posts
11 Commander of British Forces Cyprus Episkopi
12 Head of British Defence Liaison Staff Washington
13 Assistant Chief of Staff (Policy) Mons
ROYAL NAVY
4* posts
14 Chief of the Naval Staff London
15 Chief Naval Home Command/2nd Sea Lord Portsmouth
16 Commander in Chief Fleet North wood
3 * posts
17 Controller of the Navy London
18 Chief of Fleet Support Bath
19 Deputy Commander in Chief Fleet Northwood
20 Flag Officer Plymouth Plymouth
21 Flag Officer Scotland, Northern England and Northern Ireland Pitreavie
22 Flag Officer Surface Flotilla Portsmouth
23 Commandant General Royal Marines Portsmouth
24 Deputy Supreme Allied Commander Atlantic Virginia
25 Chief of Staff NAVSOUTH Naples
Number Post Location
2* posts
26 Director General Naval Personnel Strategy and Plans Portsmouth
27 Flag Officer Submarines Northwood
28 Flag Officer Portsmouth Portsmouth
29 Flag Officer Training and Recruiting Portsmouth
30 Commander British Forces Gibraltar
31 Flag Officer Sea Training Portland
32 Flag Officer Naval Aviation Yeovilton
33 Naval Secretary Portsmouth
34 Commander United Kingdom Task Group Portsmouth
35 Medical Director General(Naval) Gosport
ARMY
4* posts
36 Chief of General Staff London
37 Adjutant General Upavon
38 Commander in Chief United Kingdom Land Forces Wilton
39 Deputy Supreme Allied Commander Europe Mons
40 Master General of the Ordnance London
3* posts
41 Quartermaster General Andover
42 Inspector General Doctrine and Training Upavon
43 Deputy Commander in Chief United Kingdom Land Forces/Inspector General Territorial Army Wilton
44 General Officer Commanding Southern District Aldershot
45 General Officer Commanding Northern Ireland Lisburn
46 Commander ACE Rapid Reaction Corps Rheindahlen
2 * posts
47 Director General Military Survey Feltham
48 Engineer in Chief (Army) Minley
49 Director General Land Warfare Upavon
50 Director General Army Training Upavon
51 Commandant Staff College Camberley
52 Commandant Royal Military College of Science Shrivenham
53 Commandant Royal Military Academy Sandhurst Camberley
54 Director Royal Armoured Corps Bovington
55 Director Royal Artillery Larkhill
56 Director of Infantry Warminster
57 Director Army Air Aviation M. Wallop
58 Military Secretary London
59 Chief of Staff HQ Adjutant General Corps Upavon
60 Director General Logistics Support (Army) Andover
61 Director General Equipment Support (Army) Andover
62 Director General Army Medical Service Mychett
Number Post Location
63 General Officer Commanding Eastern District York
64 General Officer Commanding London District London
65 General Officer Commanding Wales and Western District Shrewsbury
66 General Officer Commanding Scotland Edinburgh
67 Commander 3rd (UK) Division Bulford
68 Commander United Kingdom Support Command Germany Rheindahlen
69 Commander 1st Division (UK) Armoured Division Herford
70 Chief of Staff HQ ACE Rapid Reaction Corps Rheindahlen
71 Chief Combat Support ACE Rapid Reaction Corps Rheindahlen
72 Director Support Land Centre Heidelberg
73 Commander British Forces Hong Kong
74 Commander Land Forces Northern Ireland Lisburn
75 Chief of Staff HQ Quartermaster General Andover
ROYAL AIR FORCE
4* posts
76 Chief of the Air Staff London
77 Air Officer Commanding in Chief HQ Personnel and Training Command Innsworth
78 Air Officer Commanding in Chief HQ Logistic Command Brampton
79 Air Officer Commanding in Chief HQ Strike Command High Wycombe
80 Deputy Commander in Chief Central Europe Brunssum
81 Controller Aircraft London
82 Commander HQ Allied Air Forces North West Europe High Wycombe
3* posts
83 Chief of Staff HQ Strike Command High Wycombe
84 Chief of Staff HQ Logistic Command Brampton
85 Director General Saudi Armed Forces Project Riyadh
86 Air Officer Commanding 18 Group Northwood
2* posts
87 Air Secretary Innsworth
88 Chief of Staff HQ Personnel and Training Command Innsworth
89 Deputy Commander Messtetten Messtetten
90 Air Officer Commanding Information Systems and Signals Unit Brampton
91 Air Officer Engineering and Supply High Wycombe
92 Air Officer Commanding 1 Group Benson
93 Air Officer Commanding 2 Group Rheindahlen
Number Post Location
94 Air Officer Commanding 11 Group B. Priory
95 Air Officer Commanding High
38 Group Wycombe
96 Air Officer Training Innsworth
97 Air Officer Maintenance and Air Officer Commanding Maintenance Units Brampton
98 Commandant RAF Staff College Bracknell Bracknell
99 Commandant RAF College Cranwell Cranwell
100 Director General Medical Services (RAF) Innsworth
101 Director General Policy and Plans London
102 Air Officer Administration and Air Officer Commanding Directly Administered Units High Wycombe
103 Director General Support Management (RAF) Brampton
MoD CIVILIANS
104 Permanent Under Secretary of State London
105 Chief Scientific Adviser London
106 2nd Permanent Under Secretary of State London
107 Chief of Defence Procurement London
108 Deputy Chief Scientific Adviser London
109 Head of Defence Export Services London

The total estimated cost of the driver posts for the financial year 1993–94 is approximately £2.2 million. Entitled officers normally have the use of a Rover 800 car, although particular local circumstances, security requirements, command roles and topography might necessitate additional vehicles being used. The total costs of car maintenance are not separately identifiable, however the available data suggests that the likely annual cost is in the region of £300 per vehicle per annum. The total annual cost of car replacement for the last three years is as follows:

  • 1992–93: 131 vehicles bought costing £1.7 million
  • 1993–94: Seven vehicles bought costing £100,000
  • 1994–95: no vehicles bought.

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