MoD responds to House of
Commons Defence Committee (HCDC) report on recruiting and retaining
Armed Forces personnel
MINISTRY OF DEFENCE
News Release (178/2008) issued by The Government News Network on 30
July 2008
Defence Minister,
Derek Twigg, today responded to Defence Select Committee report on
the recruitment and retention of the Armed Forces.
Mr Derek Twigg said:
"We are working hard to meet the challenges in recruitment
and retention, but it is crucial to acknowledge that there has
been an increase in the number of people joining the Armed Forces
compared with the same point last year. We are looking into the
evidence used in the HCDC report, as our own independently
verified manning statistics show that recruiting is up and that
the Army's harmony guidelines are improving.
"We face strong competition from other employers and our
personnel are very much in demand owing to the skills and
experience they acquire during service life. But as the Committee
acknowledges, the MoD has introduced a number of measures to
address these challenges. The recently published Service Personnel
Command Paper sets out a range of new initiatives to address some
of the disadvantages which have previously affected our service
personnel, their families and veterans. These include improved
access to health, housing and education.
"The Secretary of State for Defence and the Chief of the
Defence Staff are on the record saying that we are asking our
forces to do a lot. Shortages do remain in some specific
pinchpoint trades, which are being addressed through a number of
retention initiatives, including increased pay, improved
accommodation, better welfare packages and by restructuring the
Services to improve effectiveness. We have recently announced an
increased commitment bonus of £15,000 for longer serving personnel.
"Operations in Iraq and Afghanistan are challenging, but the
morale of our people is high. Commanders assure me that
operational effectiveness has not been compromised and units
deploy fully manned for the tasks they will be expected to
undertake. Over the last year we have reduced our commitments
considerably in Iraq, the Balkans and Northern Ireland. The recent
deployment to Kosovo shows that we retain the capability to
respond to emerging situations but also that we will bring our
people back as soon as they are no longer required.
"I accept that there is more to do. But the issues raised by
the Committee are not new to us and are being addressed. The MoD
and Armed Forces will continue to do our utmost to ensure that the
hard-working, brave service personnel, and their families, have
the support they deserve and need to do the dangerous and
demanding things we ask of them."
The MoD will respond to the report fully in due course, however
there are a number of points to acknowledge:
* The number of military personnel finishing their training and
moving into the strength of the Armed Forces has actually risen,
compared with the same point last year. There has been an 8.3 per
cent increase (1,600 people) in the number of new recruits who
have joined the Armed Forces in the 12 months to 31 March 2008,
compared to the previous year. There has also been an increase
(830 people) in the number of recruits who have joined the trained
strength of the Armed Forces compared with the same period last year.
* Overall, the number of people leaving the trained strength of
the Armed Forces in the 12 months to 31 March 2008 has decreased
by 1.3 per cent (280 people) compared with the 12 months to 31
March 2007.
* We continually monitor the manpower situation so we can look at
trends and take action where necessary. As at 1 May 2008 (the
latest quarterly manning report) the Armed Forces were at 97.3 per
cent of the agreed manning requirement (173,840). In 1997 strength
was at 95.8 per cent of requirement.
* All three services closely monitor harmony guidelines to ensure
that training and time at home are balanced with time spent on
operational tours. The Royal Navy continues to deliver harmony
for more than 99 per cent of their people. 10 per cent of the Army
and RAF are breaching harmony.
* The National Recognition Study by Quentin Davies MP has also
made many recommendations on how to improve the visibility and
understanding of the Armed Forces, including establishing an Armed
Forces and Veterans Day and encouraging the wearing of uniforms in public.
* The MoD welcomes the report's finding that the overall
basic pay package does not appear to be a major cause of Armed
Forces personnel leaving the services. In February, we accepted
the Armed Forces Pay Review Board (AFPRB) recommendation of a 2.6
per cent pay rise for all Servicemen and women - amongst the best
in the public sector. This award builds upon last year's
increase of 3.3 per cent - also the highest in the public sector.
The 2007 award included a 9.4 per cent pay increase for some
13,000 of the most junior trained Service personnel. Currently, a
trained Private in the Army is able to earn up to £25,182
depending on their trade and length of service. There was also a 1
per cent increase to (14 per cent) in the X-Factor component of
basic pay.
* Some of our accommodation is not good enough. But we are making
progress in addressing this against a background of decades of
underfunding. Improvements, upgrades and vast defence PFI
projects such as Allenby Connaught at Aldershot and new barracks
at Colchester, are turning things around. We will spend over £8
billion on accommodation over the next 10 years. In the last
financial year (07/08), we have upgraded over 650 service family
homes and replaced 3,900 boilers, 320 bathrooms, 350 kitchens and
22 playparks. For single living accommodation, over 25,000 new or
upgraded bedspaces have been delivered since 2003. We will
continue to prioritise investment and deliver improvements.
* The MoD welcomes the report's acknowledgement of the
difficulties faced in recruiting from certain ethnic minority
communities, which can only be addressed within those communities,
should they choose to do so.
Notes to Editors
1. For further information, visit http://www.mod.uk