§ Mr. WrayTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) what proposals he has to make all methods of contact with families free for all armed services personnel; [128119]
51W(2) by what methods servicemen are able to contact their families when on overseas operations; and what proposals he has to improve links when on longer term operations. [128117]
§ Mr. CaplinThe ability of deployed personnel to maintain contact with their families is a key part of the Operational Welfare Package (OWP) which was introduced in 2001 to replace the ad hoc welfare provision which had previously varied between operations, The OWP followed a comprehensive review of operational welfare, completed in December 1999, which took into account the views of hundreds of Service personnel across a wide range of operational theatres, as well as drawing on lessons from our allies. The OWP communications package includes free use of Forces Aerogrammes ('Blueys') and electronic-Blueys, 20 minutes of publicly funded telephone calls per week and access to internet and email facilities. The Ministry of Defence recognises the need to continually keep under review its Welfare Support Policy. In light of the experience's gained on various operational deployments during the last two years the Department is currently in the process of reviewing and evaluating the policy. It is too early to say what the outcome will be of this review.
§ Angus RobertsonTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) how many(a) Service personnel of officer rank, (b) Service personnel of other ranks, (c) industrial civilian personnel and (d) non-industrial civilian personnel were employed by the (i) RAF Maintenance Group Defence Agency and (ii) Naval Aircraft Repair Organisation in each year from inception to reorganisation as part of the Defence Aviation Repair Agency; how many were employed in Scotland in each case; what the total manning costs were for each category in each year, what the manning costs were for Scotland in each year, and if he will make a statement; [128041]
(2) how many (a) Service personnel of officer rank, (b) Service personnel of other ranks, (c) industrial civilian personnel and (d) non-industrial civilian personnel were employed by the Defence Evaluation and Research Agency in each year from its inception to its disestablishment on 1 July 2001; how many of these were employed in Scotland; what the total manning costs were for each category in each year; what the manning costs were for Scotland in each year; and if he will make a statement; [128039]
(3) how many (a) Service personnel of officer rank, (b) Service personnel of other ranks, (c) industrial civilian personnel and (d) non-industrial civilian personnel were employed by the (i) Defence Aviation Repair Agency, (ii) Meteorological Office, (iii) Hydrographic Office, (iv) Defence Services Organisation, (v) British Forces Post Office Agency, (vi) Defence Medical Education and Training Agency, (vii) Defence Medical Services Department, (viii) Defence Estates, (ix) Army Base Repair Organisation, (x) Defence Science and Technology Laboratory, (xi) Defence Procurement Agency, (xii) Warship Support Agency, (xiii) Disposal Services Agency, (xiv) Director General Commercial and (xv) Ministry of Defence Police in each year since inception; how many were employed in 52W Scotland in each case; what the total manning costs were for each category in each year; what the manning costs were for Scotland in each year; and if he will make a statement; [128040]
(4) how many (a) Service personnel of officer rank, (b) Service personnel of other ranks, (c) industrial civilian personnel and (d) non-industrial civilian personnel were employed by the Defence Secondary Care Agency in each year from its inception to its dissolution on 31 March; how many of these were employed in Scotland; what the total manning costs were for each category in each year; what the manning costs were for Scotland in each year; and if he will make a statement. [128038]
§ Mr. CaplinFigures for Service and civilian personnel relating to each organisation have been placed in the Library of the House. Information on numbers of Service personnel working in Scotland, overall manning costs, and details prior to 1993, are not held centrally, and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.