To ask the Secretary of State for Defence pursuant to the answer of 20 June 2006, Official Report, column 709W, on departmental staff, what assessment he has made of the reasons for the change in the number of staff failing to achieve an acceptable mark in their annual report since 2002-03; and what measures have been put in place to address the issue. (80789)

The increase in numbers year on year was partly due to the introduction of industrial staff to performance appraisal as part of the Ministry of Defence four year pay deal. Also, the figures provided in the answer of 20 June 2006, Official Report, column 709W, were, as explained, a snapshot at the end of the reporting year. We have, throughout the pay deal, raised line manager awareness of the impact on pay of failing to address poor performance at the end of the reporting year and the increase in numbers show that managers were responding to this. The Department remains keen for line managers to deal with poor performers and to manage them out if they do not respond to encouragement and assistance to improve their performance.