Asked by: Mark Francois (Conservative - Rayleigh and Wickford)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what the target for recruitment of (a) officers and (b) other ranks in the British army was in 2022-23.
Answered by Andrew Murrison - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence)
I refer the right hon. Member to the answer I gave on 8 January to Question 7264 from the right hon. Member for Wentworth and Dearne (Mr Healey) which shows the Basic Training Starts (BTS) Targets for British Army Other Ranks for financial year 2022-23.
Demand targets for BTS are set annually. Quarterly targets are used for internal guidance and they can change in-year in order to meet the annual target.
The table below shows those internal targets for the first three quarters of 2023-24:
Financial Year | Other Ranks Basic Training Starts Targets |
2023-24 Quarter 1 | 1,890 |
2023-24 Quarter 2 | 2,760 |
2023-24 Quarter 3 | 2,120 |
There are no targets for Officers BTS.
Notes/caveats:
Asked by: Mark Francois (Conservative - Rayleigh and Wickford)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many regular personnel are assigned to the Royal Navy submarine service.
Answered by Andrew Murrison - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence)
The Royal Navy does not routinely disclose the trained strength of individual branches or specialisms as to do so could, or would be likely to, prejudice the capability of the Armed Forces.
Asked by: Mark Francois (Conservative - Rayleigh and Wickford)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what the (a) value and (b) duration is of the contract his Department holds with Serco for the recruitment of personnel into the Royal Fleet Auxiliary.
Answered by Andrew Murrison - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence)
The Royal Fleet Auxiliary (RFA) does not hold a contract with Serco for the recruitment of personnel. However, the RFA does second staff from Serco to obtain specialist skills where there is a business need to do so. The cost of these secondments are withheld due to commercial sensitivities.
Asked by: Mark Francois (Conservative - Rayleigh and Wickford)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what the total cost of the Army Recruiting contract between his Department and Capita is.
Answered by Andrew Murrison - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence)
The current value of the Capita contract to March 2026 is £1.12 billion.
Asked by: Mark Francois (Conservative - Rayleigh and Wickford)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many (a) officers and (b) other ranks were recruited into the British Army in each of the first three quarters of 2023-24.
Answered by Andrew Murrison - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence)
I refer the right hon. Member to the answer I gave on 8 January to Question 7264 from the right hon. Member for Wentworth and Dearne (Mr Healey) which shows the Basic Training Starts for British Army Officer and Other Ranks for financial year 2022-23.
https://questions-statements.parliament.uk/written-questions/detail/2023-12-18/7264
The below table shows how many Officers and Other Ranks were recruited into the British Army in Q1 & Q2 2023-24. The figures for Q3 2023-24 are not yet available.
Financial year | Total basic Training starts Actuals | Officer Basic Training Starts Actuals | Other Ranks Basic Training Starts Actuals |
2023-24 Quarter 1 | 960 | 150 | 810 |
2023-24 Quarter 2 | 2,120 | 270 | 1,850 |
Notes/caveats:
Asked by: Mark Francois (Conservative - Rayleigh and Wickford)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many (a) officers and (b) other ranks were recruited to the Army in 2022-23.
Answered by Andrew Murrison - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence)
I refer the right hon. Member to the answer I gave on 8 January to Question 7264 from the right hon. Member for Wentworth and Dearne (Mr Healey) which shows the Basic Training Starts for British Army Officer and Other Ranks for financial year 2022-23.
https://questions-statements.parliament.uk/written-questions/detail/2023-12-18/7264
The below table shows how many Officers and Other Ranks were recruited into the British Army in Q1 & Q2 2023-24. The figures for Q3 2023-24 are not yet available.
Financial year | Total basic Training starts Actuals | Officer Basic Training Starts Actuals | Other Ranks Basic Training Starts Actuals |
2023-24 Quarter 1 | 960 | 150 | 810 |
2023-24 Quarter 2 | 2,120 | 270 | 1,850 |
Notes/caveats:
Asked by: Mark Francois (Conservative - Rayleigh and Wickford)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what the (a) duration, (b) purpose and (c) value is of each of his Department's contracts with Fujita; and who the Top Level budget holder is for each contract.
Answered by James Cartlidge - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)
I am taking the right hon. Member’s question to be asking about Fujitsu. The Department has a total of 12 direct contracts with Fujitsu. These are held by both Defence Equipment and Support and Defence Digital. The value of each contract is commercially sensitive.
Asked by: Mark Francois (Conservative - Rayleigh and Wickford)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, which Type 23 frigates are in refit; and when those refits are expected to be completed.
Answered by James Cartlidge - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)
HMS ST ALBANS, HMS SUTHERLAND, HMS WESTMINSTER and HMS ARGYLL are currently in or are awaiting Refit.
The duration of refit periods is determined by a number of factors, including requirements that emerge during the course of the work, as well as pre-planned repairs and capability insertions. It is not therefore possible to provide precise completion dates until late during each refit period.
In the financial year 2023-24, £100 million has been allocated for Type 23 refits and of this sum about £50 million has been expended.
It is not possible to provide a breakdown of allocation or expenditure by vessel for future work. Funds for Type 23 refits are not simply allocated on a per ship or per refit basis. The work required to be undertaken on a vessel over and above pre-planned capability insertions, and therefore the overall baseline costs, are established by survey of the vessel at the commencement of each refit period.
Asked by: Mark Francois (Conservative - Rayleigh and Wickford)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how much has been spent on the refit of (a) HMS Argyll and (b) HMS Westminster.
Answered by James Cartlidge - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)
HMS ST ALBANS, HMS SUTHERLAND, HMS WESTMINSTER and HMS ARGYLL are currently in or are awaiting Refit.
The duration of refit periods is determined by a number of factors, including requirements that emerge during the course of the work, as well as pre-planned repairs and capability insertions. It is not therefore possible to provide precise completion dates until late during each refit period.
In the financial year 2023-24, £100 million has been allocated for Type 23 refits and of this sum about £50 million has been expended.
It is not possible to provide a breakdown of allocation or expenditure by vessel for future work. Funds for Type 23 refits are not simply allocated on a per ship or per refit basis. The work required to be undertaken on a vessel over and above pre-planned capability insertions, and therefore the overall baseline costs, are established by survey of the vessel at the commencement of each refit period.
Asked by: Mark Francois (Conservative - Rayleigh and Wickford)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what the out of service date is of (a) HMS Albion and (b) HMS Bulwark.
Answered by James Cartlidge - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)
On current plans, HMS Albion and HMS Bulwark will retire from service by the end of 2034.