HC Deb 25 May 1995 vol 260 cc663-5W
Ms Hodge

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many people in(a) the Defence Department and (b) agencies for which the Defence Department is responsible (i) took early retirement, (ii) took voluntary redundancy, (iii) took compulsory redundancy and (iv) were retired on medical grounds in (1) 1993–94 and (2) 1994–95; and what is the projected figure for 1995–96. [25475]

Mr. Freeman

Details of staff who left my Department early are set out in the table. Records held centrally do not distinguish between staff of individual top level budgets or agencies, or terms of redundancy. Such information could be obtained only at disproportionate cost. Our present plans assume that more than 2,000 staff will leave under early retirement or redundancy terms in 1995–96.

Year Early retirement Redundancy Ill-health retirement
1993–94 399 2,639 1,200
1994–95 166 3,058 1,120

Ms Hodge

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is the annual cost to his Department of staff leaving under redundancy/ early retirement schemes to incorporate(a) added years lump sum payments, (b) redundancy payments, (c) pension payments, including enhancements and (d) any other special arrangements for (i) 1993–94, (ii) 1994–95, (iii) projected for 1995–96 and (iv) projected for 1996–97. [25663]

Mr. Freeman

The costs to my Department of early retirement and redundancies are borne from the running costs provision. A detailed breakdown of the various costs could be obtained only at disproportionate cost. The total costs borne on my Department's running costs in 1993–94 and 1994–95 were £62 million and £59 million respectively. For 1995–96, the amount is estimated at £51 million. Projections for 1996–97 will be determined during the coming public expenditure survey.

Ms Hodge

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many posts were lost in(a) the Defence Department and (b) agencies for which the Defence Department is responsible, listing the total lost posts agency by agency for (i) 1993–94 and (ii) 1994–95; and how many posts are proposed to be lost in 1995–96. [25085]

Mr. Freeman

Historical information on posts lost is not kept centrally by my Department and could be provided only at disproportionate cost. The total number of permanent UK-based posts which it is estimated will be lost in 1995–96 is some 6,000.

Ms Hodge

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) what changes there have been in the numbers of staff employed by(a) the Ministry of Defence and (b) agencies for which the Ministry of Defence is responsible, listing the changes in the number of staff agency by agency in (i) 1993–94 and (ii) 1994–95; and what changes are projected for 1995–96; [25066]

(2) how many staff of (a) the Defence Department and (b) agencies for which the Defence Department is responsible, were employed on a casual or short-term basis in (i) 1993–94 and (ii) 1994–95; and what are the projected figures for 1995–96; [25482]

(3) what changes there have been in the number of staff in employment by grade in (a) his Department is responsible in (i) 1993–94 and (ii) 1994–95; and what are the projected figures for 1995–96. [25555]

Mr. Freeman

The numbers of permanent and casual staff employed by my Department in 1993–94, projected outturn for 1994–95, and plans for 1995–96 are published annually in the departmental report by the Ministry of Defence, a copy of which is in the Library of the House.

No projections broken down by grade are available.