§ 44. Mr. Allan StewartTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence what progress has been made towards shifting defence resources from support areas to the front line; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Ian StewartSubstantial progress has been made in transferring resources from the support area to the front line since we came into office in 1979. The Royal Navy has148W pared back its support area so that some 70 per cent. of its uniformed manpower is now devoted to the front line and personnel spend more time at sea; the army is saving some 4,000 posts in the support area to facilitate enhancement of the front line, including the formation of two new front line regiments with no addition to total manpower; since 1984 the RAF has released 1,700 posts from the support area in the fields of catering, aircraft servicing and supply. Civilian manpower in the Ministry of Defence has declined by some 40 per cent. since 1979. We shall continue to improve value for money in defence spending.