HC Deb 21 March 1996 vol 274 cc286-7W
Dr. David Clark

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the costs incurred by his Department as a result of redundancies in each of the three services in each of the last five years. [21886]

Mr. Soames

The "Options for Change" redundancy programme began in financial year 1992–93. In that year, redundancy payments of £232 million were made. In 1993–94, 1994–95 and 1995–96 the payments totalled £509 million, £453 million and £187 million respectively.

These costs are split between the three services as follows:

£ million
1992–93 1993–94 1994–95 1995–96
RN 12 95 75 28
ARMY 209 328 281 16
RAF 11 86 97 143
Total 232 509 453 187

These payments include special capital payments, and early payment of terminal grants, commuted pension payments and the first year's payment of immediate pensions.