§ Mr. Keith SimpsonTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the budget for army combat arms training was in each month since January 2001. [148870]
§ Mr. Ingram[holding answer 19 January 2004]: Army combat arms training has been taken to encompass individual training for all personnel at Phase 1 (initial) training (which will include individuals who go on to serve in non-combat arms), and individual training at phase 2 (specialist) and phase 3 (career and development) training for personnel serving in the Royal Armoured Corps, the Royal Artillery, the Infantry, and the School of Army Aviation. LAND Command undertakes collective training for the whole Army but cannot identify specific costs associated with such training for combat arms. The sums shown include an element for HQ Admin costs etc., which cannot easily be separated out, but exclude all salary costs of trainees, which are accounted for separately. The figures are as follows:
1245W
Month £ million April 2001 27.599 May 2001 28.447 June 2001 31.833 July 2001 30.378 August 2001 26.729 September 2001 27.676 October 2001 28.505 November 2001 29.591 December 2001 29.585 January 2002 29.409 February 2002 28.914 March 2002 30.046
Month £million April 2002 29.777 May 2002 31.053 June 2002 31.142 July 2002 31.429 August 2002 30.959 September 2002 30.589 October 2002 31.957 November 2002 31.251 December 2002 31.126 January 2003 33.256 February 2003 29.879 March 2003 31.905 April 2003 32.660 May 2003 32.836 June 2003 27.767 July 2003 32.421 August 2003 28.732 September 2003 29.089 October 2003 32.559 November 2003 32.034 December 2003 28.318 January 2004 31.626 February 2004 (projected) 31.573 March 2004 (projected) 31.225
§ Dr. TongeTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many army musicians were obliged to down-rank on transferring to the Guards regiments from other regiments; and what effect this down ranking will have on these soldiers' pensions. [148963]
§ Mr. CaplinTransfer to bands of the Guards Division is voluntary. Seventeen army musicians who volunteered to transfer and are still serving accepted reversion to the rank of Musician as a condition of transfer. Reversion in rank has not been a condition of transfer since April 2003.
Reversion in rank may affect an individual's pension award. Rank for the purpose of assessing pension entitlement is calculated by taking the highest paid rank held for an aggregate of two years or more during the last five years reckonable service.
§ Mr. Keith SimpsonTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence what financial restrictions have been placed on army recruiting. [148869]
§ Mr. Caplin[holding answer 19 January 2004]: None.