Written question asked by Lord Maude of Horsham (Conservative) on Monday, 19 January 2009, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Wednesday, 21 January 2009. It was answered by Lord Beamish (Labour) on Monday, 2 February 2009 on behalf of the Ministry of Defence.

Departmental Manpower

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence with reference to the answer to the hon. Member for Rochford and Southend East of 7 October 2008, Official Report, column 608W, on departmental manpower, how many staff in his Department and its agencies are in the redeployment pool; how many of them were placed in the pool after returning from maternity leave; and how many of them have been in the pool for at least (a) six months and (b) 12 months.

Answer: As at 21 January 2009 there were 886 MOD staff in the Redeployment Pool.The Department's automated records do not facilitate ready identification of the number of those in the pool who were placed there on their return from maternity leave. This information could be provided only at disproportionate cost.346 staff have been in the pool for at least six months and, of those, 214 have been in the pool for at least 12 months.

Secondary information