HC Deb 15 July 2003 vol 409 cc200-1W
Mr. McNamara

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the average cost is of(a) phase one and (b) phase two training per recruit for each of the three services and the Royal Marines. [123946]

Mr. Ingram

I refer my hon. Friend to the answer given on 3 June 2003,Official Report, columns 298–99W, by my hon. Friend the then Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Defence and Minister for Veterans (Dr. Moonie) to the hon. Member for Portsmouth, South (Mr. Hancock).

Mr. McNamara

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what improvements are being implemented to improve recreational facilities in each of the three services. [123947]

Mr. Ingram

Trainees already have access to a range of recreational facilities, including playing fields and other sports amenities, and traditional NAAFI facilities, including games and social rooms with TV and video. A number of improvements are being made, including to sporting facilities and the introduction of Quiet Rooms, Juice Bars and Internet Cafes. User views on recreational facilities are being sought through surveys and focus groups to identify further candidate enhancements.

Mr. McNamara

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the average supervisory ratios of staff to trainees in initial training establishments for each of the three services. [123948]

Mr. Ingram

Average figures for the classroom environment vary from 1:3 to 1:40 according to the nature of the training being undertaken. Outside the classroom, ratios vary greatly depending on local circumstances such as age, maturity of recruits, geography of establishments etc, and an average ratio is therefore neither collated nor meaningful. Individual establishments are charged with ensuring that supervisory ratios outside the classroom are appropriate for duty of care in each of these circumstances.