§ Mr. KeetchTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence pursuant to his answer of 19 June 2003,Official Report, column 349W, on service manning, if he will list the trades within the critical manning groups of the Army including the (a) requirement, (b) shortfall and (c) percentage manned. [122116]
§ Mr. CaplinThe following table lists the latest available figures (as at 31 March 2003) for the key trades within the critical manning groups of the Army. The critical manning levels of each trade is calculated by the Arms and Service Directors against various evolving requirements, including commitments. Thus, trades considered to be at critical manning and the factors affecting them will change from time to time. 451W
Soldier arm/service and trade Liability Trained strength Shortfall Percentage manned Royal Corps of Signals Information systems operator 277 167 110 60.3 Systems engineer technician 567 514 53 90.6 Specialist operator 325 228 124 70.1 Royal Logistic Corps Ammunition technician 344 268 76 77.9 Chef 2,621 2,319 302 88.8 Movement controller 368 331 37 89.9 Petroleum operator 257 191 66 74.3 Army Medical Services Royal Army veterinary corps dog trainer 110 89 21 80.9 Anaesthetist 32 9 23 28.1 Burns/plastic surgeon 4 2 2 50.0 Radiologist 6 1 5 16.7 Orthopaedic surgeon 11 8 3 72.7 General surgeon 16 10 6 62.5 General medical practitioner 197 100 97 50.8 General duties registered nurse (officer) 350 284 66 81.1 General duties registered nurse (soldier) 325 184 141 56.6 Accident and emergency nurse (soldier) 25 5 20 20.0 Intensive care nurse (soldier) 19 4 15 21.0 Environmental health technician 72 61 11 84.7 Corps of Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers Vehicle mechanic 4,124 3,432 692 83.2 Vehicle electrician 562 353 209 62.8 Recovery mechanic 587 453 134 77.2 Armourer 681 588 93 86.3 Royal Engineers Explosive ordnance disposal 548 488 60 89.0 Military works force 359 257 102 71.6 Mechanical engineer fitter 705 512 193 72.6 Mechanical engineer command, control and communications specialist 836 668 168 79.9 Intelligence Corps Operator military intelligence (includes linguists) 1,094 1,013 81 92.6
§ Mr. KeetchTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence what measures are being taken to address manning shortfalls in the critical manning groups of the(a) Army, (b) RAF and (c) Royal Navy; and if he will make a statement. [122117]
§ Mr. CaplinA range of positive measures are in hand across all three services to address critical manning shortfalls. These include both remunerative and nonremunerative measures, some targeted to specific shortfall groups and others across all the services. Recent Manning and Retention reviews for Submarine specialisms, Aircrew and Medical staff have introduced improved career patterns and financial incentives on entry (Golden Helios) and in return for commitment to specific periods of service. These proposals were endorsed by the Armed Forces Pay Review Body (AFPRB).
Examples of some other further measures by individual service are detailed as follows:
Naval Service—Promotion arrangements for RM Other Ranks and Chef and Warfare ratings have been reviewed to improve incentives, and the offer, where appropriate, of Second Open Engagements (beyond 22 years) has been well received. Artificers are currently the subject of a sustainability study.Army—Financial Retention Incentive (FRI) for the Royal SIGNALS.RAF—For Non-commissioned Aircrew (NCA), the implementation of the recommendations from the recent Airmen Aircrew Sustainability Study will introduce a revised NCA branch structure and address terms of conditions of service.