§ Mr. KeyTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the numbers of regular reserve forces in the Royal Navy, Army and Royal Air Force in each year since 1988. [39634]
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§ Dr. ReidThe information requested is given in the table.
UK regular reserve forces at 1 April each year Year Royal Fleet reserve Army reserve Royal Air Force reserve 1988 12,113 58,082 5,553 1989 12,717 62,197 7,394 1990 13,630 65,751 10,091 1991 13,944 65,214 12,607 1992 13,369 63,145 14,450 1993 8,792 57,423 15,919 1994 8,763 54,939 16,329 1995 8,603 53,425 15,877 1996 9,012 48,521 16,018 1997 9,974 41,195 16,349 Note:
Definitions of the regular reserve forces are taken from Reserve Forces Act 1996. Figures for 1 April 1998 are not yet available.
§ Mr. KeyTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many RAF reservist role support squadrons have been established; for which aircraft; and what are their missions. [39623]
§ Dr. ReidFour role support squadrons have been formed.
The Helicopter Support Squadron, based at RAF Benson, formed on 1 October 1996. The Squadron provides manpower for augmentation and operational support for the Support Helicopter Force during contingency force, peacekeeping, humanitarian and disaster relief operations.
The Offensive Support Role Support Squadron formed on 1 January 1998, and is based at RAF Cottesmore. The Squadron provides manpower for augmentation and operational support of the Harrier and Jaguar Force.
The Strike Attack Support Squadron based at RAF Marham, formed on 1 April 1998. The Squadron provides a pool of manpower for augmentation and operational support of the Tornado GR 1/4 Force.
The Air Transport and Air-to-Air Refuelling Support Squadron with an HQ based at RAF Brize Norton, and a detachment at RAF Lyneham, formed on 1 April 1998. The Squadron provides manpower to augment and support Air Transport at RAF Lyneham and Brize Norton and Air-to-Air Refuelling at RAF Brize Norton.
A further Squadron, the Air Defence Support Squadron, is due to be established at RAF Leeming on 1 July 1998. The Squadron will provide manpower to augment and support the Air Defence Force.
§ Mr. KeyTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence what were the findings of the 1996 study into the demographic and geographical distribution profile of potential recruits to the reserves which was announced in the Government response to the Twelfth report of the Defence Committee in January 1996 (HC 188). [39636]
§ Dr. ReidIn 1996 my Department employed an independent consultant to conduct a detailed study into recruitment to the Territorial Army (TA). This study suggested that the approach to TA recruitment was insufficiently nationally co-ordinated, and that it was not therefore possible to make a proper assessment of the20W demographic and geographical distribution profile of recruits and potential recruits to the Reserves. Following the study's conclusions, my Department is developing a management information system which will allow analysis of geographic and demographic trends, and in turn enable us greater focus in TA marketing and recruitment.
§ Mr. KeyTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is(a) the establishment and (b) the strength of the Royal Marines Reserve. [39632]
§ Dr. ReidThe total establishment of the Royal Marines Reserve is presently 1,000, of which some 600 billets are for fully trained personnel. As at 1 March their total strength was 871, of which 525 were fully trained.
§ Mr. KeyTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence what new roles for RAF reservists have been(a) identified and (b) established since the enactment of the Reserve Forces Act 1996. [39630]
§ Dr. ReidAs the Reserve Forces Act 1996 focused primarily on terms of employment rather than types, no new roles have been identified or established as a direct consequence of the Act. However, since the enactment in April 1997, 3 further Role Support Squadrons have been formed to complement the first, the Helicopter Support Squadron, which formed in October 1996; a fifth squadron is to be formed in July 1998. Their roles reflect a new concept of operations which requires them to supply manpower to augment regular RAF units deployed on contingency force, peacekeeping, and humanitarian and disaster relief operations. Use has already been made of the new categories of reserve service introduced within the Act. All Reservist Aircrew have volunteered to serve as High Readiness Reservists, and some 17 officers and 18 other ranks are currently employed under the new Full Time Reserve Service terms in a range of posts.
§ Mr. KeyTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is the(a) actual strength and (b) establishment of the Merchant Navy Reserve; what is the recruiting target; and what is the annual bounty payable. [39631]
§ Dr. ReidAt the end of March 1998 the actual strength of the Merchant Navy Reserve was 978 against an establishment of 1,000. There is no specific recruitment target at the present time. Members of the MNR receive an annual taxable bounty of £200.
§ Mr. KeyTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence what was the strength in(a) June 1997 and (b) March 1998 of the RAuxAF training and standardisation squadrons at RAF Halton and RAF Shawbury. [39625]
§ Dr. ReidThe strength of the Royal Auxiliary Training and Standardisation Squadrons at RAF Halton and RAF Shawbury in June 1997 and March 1998 were as follows:
June 1997 March 1998 TSS Halton 2 14 TSS Shawbury 1 7
§ Mr. KeyTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence what was(a) the establishment and (b) the actual strength of the Royal Naval Reserve in (i) 1994, (ii) 1995, (iii) 1996, (iv) 1997 and (v) 1998. [39628]
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§ Dr. ReidThe establishment and actual strength of the Royal Naval Reserve for each year since 1994 are shown in the following table:
Establishment Actual strength 1 April 1994 3,500 3,566 1 April 1995 3,500 2,808 1 April 1996 3,500 2,632 1 April 1997 3,500 2,671 1 April 1998 3,500 2,838
§ Mr. KeyTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence what was the strength in(a) April 1997 and (b) April 1998 of the RAuxAF Air Transportable Surgical Squadron at RAF Leuchars. [39624]
§ Dr. ReidThe RAuxAF Air Transportable Surgical Squadron which formed on 1 April 1997 had on 1 April 1998 a strength of 39 personnel which includes three regular members of the RAF.
§ Mr. KeyTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on trials being conducted on the feasibility of recruiting and training volunteer reservist aircrew for Tornado F3 fighter aircraft. [39622]
§ Dr. ReidThe trial into the feasibility of recruiting and training volunteer reservist aircrew for Tornado F3 aircraft is under way, with two pilots and one navigator currently undergoing refresher training.
§ Mr. KeyTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many Royal Auxiliary Air Force aircrew have been recruited to fly Puma helicopters in each month since February; and if he will make a statement. [39621]
§ Dr. ReidSince February 1997 no Royal Auxiliary Air Force aircrew have been recruited to fly Puma helicopters, although one pilot who was part of the earlier trial on the Wessex helicopter is currently undergoing Puma simulator training. Three further pilots are to be recruited by September this year, and two further applications are pending.