§ Mr. PondTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence what plans he has to review aircrew retention, following the publication of the 2001 report of the Armed Forces Pay Review Body and the chairman's supplementary letter. [153899]
§ Mr. SpellarThe Ministry of Defence is conducting a Comprehensive Review of Aircrew Retention to examine the reasons why aircrew leave the Services. A study team including representatives from the three Services, HM Treasury and external consultancy will be reviewing our overall need for aircrew against today's employment patterns, their career structures, the flying training system, the current structure of additional flying pay and the commercial airlines recruitment policies and financial packages. This work has now started and I expect to be able to report the outcome to the Armed Forces Pay Review Body in autumn this year.