HC Deb 20 March 2001 vol 365 cc105-6W
Mr. Key

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the components are of the welfare package for forces serving in Sierra Leone. [154581]

Mr. Hoon

The components of the Operational Welfare Package (OWP) for Op Silkman are as follows:

Leave

  1. (a) Additional Carry Over of Leave. The right to carry forward annual privilege leave entitlements in excess of the existing 14 days maximum—subject to the proviso that the exigencies of the service may make it impractical for this leave to be taken—is granted for those on tours in excess of six months.
  2. (b) Post Operational Tour Leave (POTL). POTL, which is granted in accordance with single service guidelines.

Family travel concessions

Welfare concessions for families' travel, as follows:

(a) Service Personnel Stationed in the UK. Dependants of married service personnel stationed in the UK but serving in

theatre for four months or more are entitled to two extra UK leave warrants, to enable families to visit their next of kin, or parents, children at boarding school or close relatives.

(b) Personnel Stationed Overseas (in north west Europe).

  1. (i) Four-month tours. Dependants of married accompanied personnel who serve in theatre for four months or more are entitled to one return journey at public expense to an address in UK for the purpose of visiting NOK or close relatives.
  2. (ii) Six-month tours. Dependants of married accompanied personnel who are serving in theatre for six months or more are entitled to two return journeys at public expense to an address in the UK for the purposes of visiting NOK or close relatives.

(c) Transfer of entitlement. Any or all of these warrants may be transferred to up to two close relatives for reverse travel from the UK.

Rest and Recuperation (R&R)

Personnel in theatre for more than four months are granted one period of R&R. A second period of R&R is authorised for personnel who have an expectation of serving between seven to 10 months inclusive and a third period for those with an expectation of serving more than 11 months.

Welfare telephones

Twenty minutes of publicly funded telephone calls per week, using welfare telephone facilities provided by Project Welcome.

Forces free aerogrammes (blueys)/concessionary parcel rates

Free "blueys" (aerogrammes) and concessionary parcel rates, authorised in both directions.

Electronic bluey

Free access to an "e-bluey" system.

E-mail/internet

Free access to e-mail and internet facilities.

News media

Forces deployed receive free newspapers and access to BFBS TV and radio facilities.

Mr. Key

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many(a) e-mail terminals, (b) telephones and (c) mail drops per week are available for Her Majesty's forces serving in Sierra Leone. [154580]

Mr. Spellar

The Operational Welfare Package (OWP) for Op Silkman includes internet access, telephones and mail drops. The numbers are as follows:

  1. (a) There are currently four e-mail terminals, with a further eight on order. Access to e-mails and the internet is free.
  2. (b) There are 12 welfare telephones provided under Project Welcome. Service personnel are allowed 20 minutes of publicly funded telephone calls per week.
  3. (c) There is one resupply flight a week that brings in and takes out mail. Free `blueys' (aerogrammes) and concessionary parcel rates are authorised in both directions.