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Ministry of Defence

Answer

Mr. Gardiner: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what steps he is taking to improve (a) morale and (b) retention in the armed forces. [148253] Mr. Spellar: High morale is a vital factor in retaining personnel which in turn improves manning levels, reduces overstretch and helps to obtain the optimum return on investment in training. Our aim is to maintain excellent levels of retention and morale through implementing policies that reflect the priorities of our people and their families. Internal attitude surveys tell us that separation is a negative factor in the morale and retention of our personnel. We have sought to mitigate the impact that separation has on our people by introducing a number of welfare initiatives, for example: A guaranteed period of Post Operational tour leave to enable Service men and women to spend some quality time with their families following an operational deployment; 20 minutes free telephone call time per week for personnel who are deployed on operations; a greater spread of e-mail facilities to maintain family communications including electronic "blueys". Recent enhancements to the families' Concessionary travel scheme give the families of personnel deployed on operations from an overseas base a wider range of choice when planning their return to the UK. In addition to these measures, a number of single Service retention positive initiatives have or are being introduced; for example: the creation in each Service of easily accessible Career Managers for all ranks; Financial Retention Incentives have been introduced to stop the outflow of Leading Rate Operator Mechanics and Royal Signallers in the Navy and Army respectively; and the RAF has introduced the "Link-up" scheme to fund Civilian Pilots licences in return for longer service.

Secondary information

Type

Written question

Reference

363 c49-50W; 148253

Session

2000-01

Question not reached

Yes

Subjects

Conditions of employment Armed forces Career development Families Staff Personnel management

Link

View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk