HC Deb 17 January 2002 vol 378 cc408-10W
Mr. Keetch

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the establishment requirement in the Royal Air Force for qualified technical personnel responsible for the maintenance of equipment serviceability in operational units and maintenance depots, stating in each case the(a) specialty requirement, (b) manning levels and (c) percentage difference from establishment requirement; and if he will make a statement. [25897]

Mr. Ingram

The specific information requested is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost. The table shows the requirement and trained strength, as at 1 December 2001, of RAF branches and trades involved in work relating to the maintenance of equipment serviceability.

Branch/Trade Requirement Trained strength ± Percentage
General Technician Ground Support Equipment 745 750 5 0.7
General Technician Workshops 123 150 27 21.9
Mechanical Transport Technician 430 437 7 1.6

Not all personnel in the branches and trades listed are permanently employed on operational or maintenance units. Some are required to undergo other duties or further specialist trade training. Generally speaking, surplus personnel are employed in the ground trade posts that may be filled by trained personnel of any trade. Measures are being taken to ameliorate the impact of the deficits and surpluses wherever possible.

Mr. Keetch

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the establishment requirement in the Army for qualified technical personnel responsible for the

Requirement1 Strength2 Shortfall ± Percentage
Career Employment Group
Artificer Aircraft 88 140 +52 59.1
Artificer Avionics 45 60 +15 33.3
Artificer Electronics 91 141 +50 54.9
Artificer Instruments 24 52 +28 116.7
Artificer Radar 43 72 +29 67.4
Artificer Telecommunications 28 62 +34 121.4
Artificer Vehicles 478 515 +37 7.7
Artificer Weapons 81 122 +41 50.6
Technician Aircraft 580 569 -11 -1.9
Technician Avionics 265 272 +7 2.6
Technician Control Equipment 345 336 -9 -2.6
Technician Instruments 215 210 -5 -2.3
Technician Radar 191 200 +9 4.7
Technician Telecommunications 210 175 -35 -16.7
Armourer 643 506 -137 -21.3
Metalsmith 229 207 -22 -9.6
Recovery Mechanic 591 457 -134 -22.7
Shipwright 29 23 -6 -20.7
Vehicle Electrician 556 363 -193 -34.7
Vehicle Mechanic 4,071 3,136 -935 -23.0
Total 8,803 7,618 -1,185 -13.5
REME Officers 875 817 -58 -6.6

Sources:

1 DASA (Army)

2 REME Manning and Career Management Division

Currently the overall shortfalls are 6.6 per cent. officers and 13.5 per cent. soldiers. Staff in trades for which surpluses are shown are employed within trades that are currently undermanned.

Mr. Keetch

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the establishment requirement in the Royal Navy for qualified technical personnel responsible for the maintenance of equipment serviceability in operational units and maintenance depots, stating in each case the(a) specialty requirement, (b) manning levels and (c) percentage difference from establishment requirement; and if he will make a statement. [25898]

Mr. Ingram

The respective requirement, strength and percentage difference for each category of technical specialist in the Royal Navy are as shown in the table.

maintenance of equipment serviceability in operational units and maintenance depots, stating in each case the (a) specialty requirement, (b) manning levels and (c) percentage difference from establishment requirement; and if he will make a statement. [25899]

Mr. Ingram

The Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers (REME) are the qualified specialist corps responsible for the technical maintenance of equipment within the Army. The table shows the REME trades involved in work relating to the maintenance of equipment, as at 1 December 2001.

Specialisation Requirement Bearing Shortfall (percentage)
Weapon Engineer Officer 746 733 -1.7
Marine Engineer Officer 652 640 -1.8
Air Engineer Officer 346 312 -9.8
Weapon Engineering Artificer 1,661 1,523 -8.3
Marine Engineering Artificer 2,050 1,972 -3.8
Air Engineering Artificer 984 961 -2.3
Weapon Engineering Mechanic 785 762 -2.9
Marine Engineering Mechanic 3,514 3,225 -8.2
Air Engineering Mechanic 2,240 2,273 +1.4

Currently the overall shortfall is 3.38 per cent officers and 4.61 per cent. ratings. However, all the RN's operational seagoing engineer officer posts are filled, and operational capability is being protected by giving priority to filling front-line posts for ratings. A number of measures are in hand to improve the shortfall.