§ Mr. Keith SimpsonTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) if he will list the names and appointments held by the board selecting the head of the Defence Academy; [15346]
(2) what the (a) salary and (b) budget of the head of the Defence Academy is; [15351]
(3) how many candidates were interviewed for the post of head of the Defence Academy; [15353]
(4) if the head of Defence Academy was an internal Ministry of Defence appointment; [15352]
(5) who has been appointed as head of the Defence Academy. [15364]
§ Mr. Ingram[holding answer 16 November 2001]: The head of the Defence Academy, Sir Roger Jackling, was appointed on the recommendation of the Chief of the Defence Staff and the permanent secretary in the Ministry of Defence, fully supported by the chiefs of staff who had previously considered a number of military candidates in the Senior Appointments Committee. The recommendation was accepted by the Secretary of State for Defence and subsequently reported to the Cabinet Office Senior Appointments Selection Committee.
Defence Ministers had previously decided that, in the overall context of Defence training, the first head of the Defence Academy should be either a senior military officer or a MOD civil servant. Since all of the candidates for consideration were internal and their suitability was well recognised within the MOD, no interviews were held.
Sir Roger Jackling, presently the second permanent secretary of the Ministry of Defence, will take up this appointment in January 2002. Sir Roger will be paid within the band of £100,000 to £110,000 in the appropriate salary range for civil service appointments at this level. The head of the Defence Academy's budget will be established with effect from 1 April 2002. The precise size of the budget has yet to be determined but it is expected to be in the region of £90 million.