Written question asked by Paul Keetch (Liberal Democrat) on Wednesday, 21 May 2003, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Thursday, 5 June 2003. It was answered by Lord Moonie (Labour) on Thursday, 5 June 2003 on behalf of the Ministry of Defence.

Ministry of Defence

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what plans he has to (a) suspend and (b) terminate the use of manning control points; and if he will make a statement; how many soldiers (a) returning from Iraq and (b) currently serving in Iraq will face manning control points in the next 12 months; and if he will make a statement.

Answer: Mr. Keetch: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) what plans he has to (a) suspend and (b) terminate the use of manning control points; and if he will make a statement; [116147] (2) how many soldiers (a) returning from Iraq and (b) currently serving in Iraq will face manning control points in the next 12 months; and if he will make a statement. [116146] Dr. Moonie: A wide-ranging review of soldiers' career structures and terms of service is presently underway. This will include consideration of the continued utility of manning control point reviews as a structural control mechanism. In the meantime, against the background of current Army manning shortfalls, there are no plans to conduct any manning control point reviews in the next 12 months. In certain specified circumstances a pension may be paid from a date earlier than that provided for by the normal rules where, for instance, a widow has been prevented from claiming a pension because of ill health.

Secondary information