§ Mr. KeetchTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment he has made of the reason underlying the number of service personnel who are medically downgraded; and if he will make a statement. [54128]
§ Dr. Moonie[holding answer 7 May 2002]: There are many reasons for Service personnel being medically downgraded on either a temporary or permanent basis. Personnel who are temporarily downgraded have incurred an injury or developed a medical condition for which they are receiving or awaiting treatment or are recuperating. Servicewomen who are pregnant or have recently given birth are also temporarily medically downgraded. Personnel who have a long term medical condition which prevents them from undertaking their full range of duties, but which allows them to be retained with limited employability, are placed in a permanently downgraded category.
Work is currently in hand in the Ministry of Defence to develop improved analysis of the causes of medical downgrading. This will enable us to ensure that we are adopting the most effective means of prevention and treatment wherever these are appropriate.
§ Mr. KeetchTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many members of the Royal Navy are in the medical categories(a) baby, (b) PO, (c) P2, (d) P2X, (e) P2U3, (f) P2L3, (g) P3R, (h) P3P, (i) P7RA, (j) P7RB, (k) P7RC, (l) P7RD and (m) P8; in each case what percentage of (i) establishment and (ii) actual manning this represents; and if he will make a statement. [54130]
§ Dr. Moonie[holding answer 7 May 2002]: I refer the hon. Member to my letter of 19 April, a copy of which was placed in the Library of the House. The Royal Navy only has figures for the total number of medically downgraded personnel, and a comparison with the Establishment, which includes only trained posts, would not be valid. "Baby" is not a medical category but an administrative one used when a woman declares her 378W pregnancy; she is then included in the P3R Medical Category. P2L3 and P2U3 are administrative categories used in training, and personnel in these categories are fit for service world-wide.
The number of personnel in the Medical Categories listed and the percentage they represent of the Total Strength is set out on the following table:
Medical Category Total Per cent of Total Strength PO 119 0.28 P2 38,346 90.41 P2X 9 0.02 P3P 383 0.90 P3R (including "Baby") 354 0.83 P7RA 298 0.70 P7RB 66 0.15 P7RC 62 0.14 P7RD 1,525 3.59 P8 68 0.16
Medical Category Total Per cent of Total Strength P2L3 844 1.99 P2U3 56 0.13