The Viscount of Oxfuirdasked Her Majesty's Government:
What plans they have for the use of the RAF's reserve personnel.
Earl HoweI am delighted to announce that three new Royal Auxiliary Air Force squadrons are to be formed. An Air Transportable Surgical Squadron will form at Royal Air Force Leuchars on 1 April 1997, with an establishment of 71 reservist personnel. Two training and standardisation squadrons are also to be formed. The first at Royal Air Force Halton also on 1 April 1997 with an establishment of 21 personnel and the second at Royal Air Force Shawbury on 1 June 1997 with an establishment of nine. In addition, the establishment of No 4624 (County of Oxford) Movements Squadron Royal Auxiliary Air Force based at Royal Air Force Brize Norton will increase by 69 posts from 1 April 1997. From the same date, the establishment of the Inspectorate Royal Auxiliary Air Force also at Royal Air Force Brize Norton will increase from two posts to four. The new role support squadron concept, which my honourable friend the Minister of State for the Armed Forces announced last year with the formation of the Helicopter Support Squadron, is developing in an encouraging way.