What is the current number of service men and women in the Jersey Field Squadron and does the target membership remain 150

1240/5(6397)

WRITTEN QUESTION TO THE MINISTER FOR HOME AFFAIRS BY THE DEPUTY OF ST. JOHN

ANSWER TO BE TABLED ON TUESDAY 5th JULY 2011

Question

Could the Minister advise the current numbers of service men and women who form the Jersey Field Squadron and whether the target membership remains 150 officers and men?

Would the Minister detail -

1. the number on the register;
2. the number who regularly attend training sessions and how many attended each session over the last 24 months;
3. the number who receive pay for attending training sessions and the amount paid;
4. the current grant paid to the United Kingdom government for the Squadron and whether the grant covers the cost of the junior Army Cadet Force and, if not, why not;
5. whether the grant mentioned in the 2010 States accounts for the Army Cadet force is above that currently paid to the UK;
6. what, if any, are the accommodation costs to the Island for the permanent staff at the Field Squadron living in States rented accommodation?

Will the Minister consider withdrawing funding from the Field Squadron and redirecting the grant to border agencies like Customs and Immigration?

Answer

The Minister for Home Affairs does not run the Jersey Field Squadron but provides finance and other support to the Jersey Field Squadron in accordance with an Inter-Governmental Agreement (IGA).

1. The Jersey Field Squadron RE (Militia) was subject to a service review in October 2006 when it became a Squadron. The Squadron has a maximum Territorial Army Strength of 8 Officers and 74 soldiers. The funding of the Squadron was amended in 2006 to reflect this change. The current number of members fluctuates on a weekly basis, but is approximately 54 Officers and soldiers (not including those on Operation TOSCA and on full time reserve service). This is approximately 66% of maximum strength. If one includes those who are away, the membership is approximately 72% of maximum strength, which is on a par with the other squadrons in the Regiment.
2. The number that attend training must be seen in the context of a Squadron that regularly deploys soldiers on enduring operations and functions within the Graduated Commitment Mechanism (GCM). The GCM, in simple terms, dictates the level of training a soldier needs; the closer a soldier is to deploying on operations the more intensive the training becomes. A

Territorial Army soldier has a training liability of 27 days per annum; the number of soldiers who achieved this is set out below[1]:

• For the 2008/9 Training Year  -  33
• For the 2009/10 Training Year  -  32
• For the 2008/9 Training Year  -  31

3. Territorial Army soldiers are only paid when they attend formal training; they are paid ¼, ½, ¾, or a full Man Training Day's (MTD) pay depending on the time spent training. The MTD cost is in line with Regular daily rates of pay and therefore varies with qualification and rank. The cost of MTDs for the last three years is set out below:

• 2008  -  £139,502
• 2009  -  £130,751
• 2010  -  £121,753[2]

4. The current 1988 IGA provides for an annual costing exercise where, by the 1st of September each year, the Ministry of Defence provides a costing showing the full costs to the MOD of providing and maintaining the Field Squadron for the next three MOD financial years. The amount paid to the MOD under the IGA for 2011 (as set out in the Business Plan) is forecast to be £1,054,000. The costings do not cover the cost of the junior Army Cadet Force (ACF) because the ACF is separate from the Squadron. The ACF receives a separate grant (currently £10,000 per annum) from the Home Affairs Department to assist with administrative and operating costs, and there is a Service Level Agreement in place in respect of that grant.
5. Yes. As detailed in d).
6. The Squadron uses States of Jersey property to house its permanent staff; except one property that  has  a  long  term  private  lease.  The  enduring  revenue  liability  is  limited  to  property maintenance, which is met from the stated Squadron budget, and charges normally associated with residential properties. The housing liability is clearly articulated in the IGA.

2010

maintenance  

lease hire & utilities  

2011 (first 6 months)

maintenance  

lease hire & utilities  

£14,197.00 £35,133.00

£21,402.00 £16,315.00

Any proposal to withdraw from the IGA would involve the Chief Minister and would, in practice, probably require the approval of the States Assembly. There is currently no proposal to withdraw from the IGA.