HC Deb 09 December 2002 vol 396 cc17-8
12. Mr. Paul Goodman (Wycombe)

How many reservists are deployed on operations. [83967]

14. Mr. Hugo Swire (East Devon)

How many reservists are deployed on operations. [83969]

The Minister of State, Ministry of Defence (Mr. Adam Ingram)

As at 1 November 2002, 605 reservists were called out and deployed on operations.

Mr. Goodman

As the Army and the Navy now train and mobilise their reservists at the centre and the Royal Air Force does not, will the Minister tell us when he will bring the RAF in with the other two services to co-ordinate their efforts fully and stop wasting taxpayers' money?

Mr. Ingram

I do not have a specific date for that. However, I am not so sure that there is a waste of money. There is an individual service approach, and over time harmonisation on a tri-service basis is constantly developed. Sometimes it is easy and sometimes it is not. I am sorry, but I do not have a precise date.

Mr. Swire

Many of the reservists who have been compulsorily mobilised recently are highly paid civilian specialists whose skills are much needed by the armed forces. Does the Minister accept that if he wants the help of such people he must compensate them properly? If so, will he tell the House why to date he has been reluctant to pay realistic sums from the reserve hardship award?

Mr. Ingram

We always keep those matters under review.

Dr. Jenny Tonge (Richmond Park)

Will the Minister tell the House how many reservists are employed as doctors and nurses in the national health service, and what the effect on NHS personnel would be if we went to war with Iraq?

Mr. Ingram

I understand that about 420 doctors and 2,000 nurses are employed, but those are approximate figures. I shall get precise figures and write to the hon. Lady accordingly.