HL Deb 30 March 2000 vol 611 cc82-3WA
Earl Attlee

asked Her Majesty's Government:

With respect to the replacement of the Territorial Army's Financial Systems Administrators (non-regular permanent staff) by Executive Officer civil servants, what will be the "pay-back" period, taking into account the need to train Executive Officers and then rotate them in accordance with civil service regulations. [HL1607]

Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean

Year on year Band D civil servants (previously known as Executive Officers) will prove cheaper than Non Regular Permanent Staff in Finance and Systems Administrators posts.

Earl Attlee

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What will be the full cost of accommodating all the civil servants being trained on residential courses to take up the posts of Financial Systems Administrators (non-regular staff) in the Territorial Army currently being undertaken by ex-Regular Army paid Non-commissioned Officers. [HL1608]

Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean

The cost of accommodation, which is arranged on an individual basis, and the travelling and subsistence costs of civil servants training to become Finance and Systems Administrators will depend on each individual's personal circumstances. It is estimated that the average cost for each of the 65 new FSAs will be in the region of £9,000.

Earl Attlee

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What is the effect on morale of the Territorial Army's Financial Systems Administrators (non-regular permanent staff) being ordered to train the civil servants who will replace them. [HL1609]

Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean

The training of civil servants to become Finance and Systems Administrators is being carried out at the School of Employment Training at Worthy Down. There will be a requirement for the current incumbent to brief the incoming civil servant on issues specific to the unit in question, as is the case whenever a post holder changes. This handover will be treated as sympathetically as possible in the circumstances.

Earl Attlee

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether the Ministry of Defence will recognise the industrial tribunal in respect of any claims by the Territorial Army's Financial Systems Administrators (non-regular permanent staff) who have been made redundant, in order to arrive at a fair resolution of their grievance. [HL1610]

Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean

Employment tribunals do not have jurisdiction to hear unfair dismissal claims brought by members of the Armed Forces.

Earl Attlee

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether the need, function or role of the Financial Systems Administrator (non-regular permanent staff) of Territorial Army units has been changed by the Strategic Defence Review, and, if not, how the non-regular permanent staff Non-commissioned Officers currently undertaking this duty can be redundant. [HL1611]

Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean

The need, role and function of the Finance and Systems Administrator in a Territorial Army unit have not been changed by the Strategic Defence Review. Examination of the manpower establishments of TA units did establish, however, that the function could be carried out more cost effectively in the long term by an appropriately trained civil servant.

1995 1996 1997 1998 1999
County Court 2,467,028 2,358,535 2,228,292 2,270,490 2,265,072
High Court 195,875 182,241 159,806 152,412 79,068