§ Mr. KeyTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many of his Department's(a) civil servants by grade and (b) service men and women by rank are (i) currently on gardening leave and (ii) have been on gardening leave for two months or more; and at what cost to his budget. [104468]
§ Mr. KilfoyleCivilian staff on gardening leave are individuals who are genuinely surplus because there is no suitable employment for them, or because their circumstances prevent them from taking up that employment. My Department monitors the position routinely and the latest available figures, excluding the Meteorological Office and Defence Evaluation and Research Agency are set out as follows:
58W
MOD civilian staff between appointments Civilian staff by grade1 Total Total 2 months or more Grade 7 3 3 Grade 6 1 0 MOD Police Constable 1 1 Senior Scientific Officer 1 1 Senior Executive Officer 1 1 Higher Executive Officer 24 23 Executive Officer 5 5 Process and General Supervisory Grade 'D' 1 0 Process and General Supervisory Grade 'E' 1 1 Higher Professional and Technology Officer 1 1 Senior Professional and Technology Officer 3 3 Professional and Technology Officer 1 0 Stores Officer Grade 'D' 1 1
MOD civilian staff between appointments Civilian staff by grade1 Total Total 2 months or more Mess Manager 'B' 1 1 Administrative Officer 1 1 Total 26 21 1 As of November 1999 2 Includes two part-time staff The approximate cost of these staff to the MOD budget this financial year, calculated on the basis of the length of time on gardening leave, is £314,000.
Although these figures represent a tiny proportion of the 100,000 civilian staff employed by the Ministry of Defence, my Department takes the matter very seriously. Individuals are placed on gardening leave only as a last resort and the aim, wherever possible, is to find work for staff in between appointments.
Although not recognised across all three Services, the term "gardening leave" (or "Wait Appointment" in the Royal Navy) is understood to apply to those who are fit and available for duty but for whom no post is currently available, and who are awaiting appointment. The amount of time involved for individuals is usually very short, and personnel move in and out of this category on a daily basis.
Naval service personnel by rank. As of 13 January 2000 Total Total 2 months or more Commodore 2 0 Captain RN 2 0 Commander 2 0 Lieutenant Commander 6 1 Lieutenant Colonel RM 1 0 Totals 13 1 The estimated cost calculated on the basis of the length of time on gardening leave is £62,952.18.
Army personnel by rank. As of 13 January 2000 Total Total 2 months or more Major General 2 1 Brigadier 1 0 Totals 3 1 The estimated cost calculated on the basis of the length of time on gardening leave is £26,481.79.
59W
Royal Air Force personnel by rank. As of 13 January 2000 Total Total 2 months or more Air Vice Marshal 1 0 Air Commodore 1 0 Group Captain 2 0
Royal Air Force personnel by rank. As of 13 January 2000 Total Total 2 months or more Warrant Officer 1 0 Flight Sergeant 1 0 Totals 6 0 The estimated cost calculated on the basis of the length of time on gardening leave is £15,452.36.
Tri-Service personnel by rank. As of 13 January 2000 Total Total 2 months or more Major General and equivalent 3 1 Brigadier and equivalent 4 0 Colonel and equivalent 5 0 Lieutenant Colonel and equivalent 2 0 Major and equivalent 6 1 Warrant Officer 1 0 Staff Sergeant and equivalent 1 0 Totals 22 2 The total estimated cost of these personnel is £104,886.33.