HC Deb 13 June 2003 vol 406 cc1116-7W
Mr. Keetch

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the maximum amount is that a self-employed GP in the Reserve Force may claim under the Reserve Forces Call-out and Recall (Financial Assistance) Regulations 1997, S.I. 1997, No. 309, under(a) Regulation (5), Employer's standard award and (b) Regulation (6), Employer's hardship award. [118797]

Dr. Moonie

A GP who is a partner in a practice may make a claim both in his capacity as a Reservist and as an employer. The latter will usually cover payments to locums and other additional training costs to the practice arising from call-out.

The regulations to which you refer are Statutory Instrument 1997, No. 309, The Reserve Forces (Call-out and Recall)(Financial Assistance) Regulations. The information requested is contained within SI309/97. Under Part II, section 5 of SI309/97, an Employers Standard Award means: (a) a lump sum payment equivalent to any costs, other than recurring costs, but not exceeding either 6 per cent. of the called-out Reservist's average weekly earnings from the employer, multiplied by 52 or £2,400, whichever is less; (b) sums equivalent to any recurring costs not exceeding 4 per cent. of the called-out Reservist's average weekly earnings from that employer of £31, whichever is less, multiplied by the number of weeks in the period of the Reservist's relevant service; and (c) an administrative expenses allowance of £55 for each employee who is accepted into service.

Under Part II, section 5 of SI309, providing an Adjudication Officer is satisfied that the employer has incurred costs exceeding 1½ the amount of his Standard Award, and that incurring such costs would cause hardship which the Standard Award would not relieve, an employer would be entitled to a Hardship Award. There is no financial limit to a Hardship Award.

Every employer's situation is different and has to be judged on a case-by-case basis. Therefore, it is not possible to state the maximum Standard and Hardship Awards that may be granted.