Overseas Deployment

HC Deb 11 February 2002 vol 380 cc14-5

8. Mr. Richard Bacon (South Norfolk)

If he will make a statement on the resources available to meet the commitments of the UK armed forces on active deployment overseas. [31899]

The Minister of State for Defence

The net additional costs of meeting the UK armed forces' commitments on active deployment overseas are met either from the Ministry of Defence's share of the Government's conflict prevention budget or through a claim on the reserve. The costs of most of these operations are reported to Parliament in the normal way, and we hope to be in a position to announce shortly the total estimated costs this financial year for the operations in Afghanistan.

Mr. Bacon

What is the current total trained strength of the armed forces? Will that increase or decrease this year?

Mr. Ingram

I will provide the hon. Gentleman with the full figure in writing—

Mr. Bacon

That is what I am asking for now.

Mr. Ingram

I appreciate that. I will provide the details in writing, because the figures are very precise and I do not carry those three sets of precise figures in my head. The figure for the Army is more than 100,000, which we hope to raise to 103,000 or 104,000 by 2005. Similar projections are being made for the Navy and for the Royal Air Force, based on the type of recruitment and retention programmes that are being put in place, with which I hope that the hon. Gentleman would agree.

Mr. Tam Dalyell (Linlithgow)

What are the latest trends in retention?

Mr. Ingram

Upwards.

Mr. David Laws (Yeovil)

Further to the comments by the Secretary of State over the weekend about UK armed forces being stretched to the limit, will the Minister tell us by when his Department's bid to the Treasury for the next round of the comprehensive spending review will have to be submitted? Will he assure us, in the light of the Secretary of State's comments, that the bid will be for a significant real increase in UK defence resources?

Mr. Ingram

With reference to earlier questions, the hon. Gentleman will appreciate that it is a long time since the Liberals have been in power. I am sure that he will understand that these issues are a matter for negotiation between Departments, and that the allocation of resources has to be made across the whole of the Government's spending profile. Those discussions are proceeding, and when a decision is taken, it will be announced.