HC Deb 01 March 2004 vol 418 cc609-11
14. Bob Russell (Colchester) (LD)

When he expects to fill all vacancies in the Army. [156742]

The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Defence(Mr. Ivor Caplin)

The current requirement for the Army is 106,730 personnel. The Department's target is to achieve manning balance by the end of 2005 and to maintain it thereafter.

Bob Russell

I thank the Minister for that answer, because if it is true, this will be the first time for many years that any Government have been able to fill all the places that the Army requires. With that in mind, does the Minister agree that, considering the footprint of the regiments of the British Army and their natural recruitment areas, one way of the filling the gap would be to enable regiments that currently recruit at full strength to form an additional battalion? The Minister will be aware that the nine counties that recruit into the Royal Anglian Regiment could comfortably fill all the places that a reinstated 3rd Battalion, Royal Anglian Regiment would provide. Will he therefore look into the possibility of reinstating that battalion?

Mr. Caplin

I have to put the hon. Gentleman right about the Royal Anglian Regiment, because both its battalions are now slightly under strength, although that does not affect their ability to undertake their current roles. We expect both battalions to reach their establishment in the near future, once personnel currently undergoing basic training are incorporated into the regular Army. As for the future, we made our plans for future Army structures clear in the defence White Paper.

Mr. Gordon Prentice (Pendle) (Lab)

But may I have an assurance that there will be no forced amalgamations of regiments that fully recruit up to strength? My hon. Friend paid tribute to the Queen's Lancashire Regiment, which has always fully recruited. It would be a tragedy if that regiment were amalgamated yet again.

Mr. Caplin

Obviously we are considering all the options that were before the House in the defence White Paper. I understand that a debate on the White Paper was asked for at business questions last week, and no doubt we will discuss it shortly. Proper consideration and debate of many of the issues will be carried out then. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State made it clear that if changes are needed, hon. Members will be consulted before they come about.

Mr. Andrew Mitchell (Sutton Coldfield) (Con)

Many Opposition Members are concerned at the apparent complacency of Government Front Benchers when it comes to manning figures. Not only did we hear about the undermanning of the Territorial Army in response to my question last Defence Question Time but we have heard from my hon. Friend the Member for Gosport (Mr. Viggers) today about the serious undermanning in Defence Medical Services. We now hear that the armed forces are undermanned by up to 5,000. Is it not time that the Government took those matters more seriously and came up with new initiatives to plug the gaps?

Mr. Caplin

This Government are certainly producing new initiatives, in particular in relation to the Defence Medical Services. The Defence Committee's third report "Defence Medical Services", published in February 1997—the hon. Gentleman was a member of that Committee-says: We conclude that staff shortages in the Defence Medical Services are so serious that it is not clear whether it will recover. Under this Government, with the innovations that we made, the Defence Medical Services is recovering and our retention is good. That will always be the case for our armed forces. After a 15-year downward trend, retention is on an upward trend for the first time.

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