HC Deb 22 March 1999 vol 328 c14W
28. Lorna Fitzsimons

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many women were employed in Her Majesty's armed forces(a) in the year before May 1997 and (b) since May 1997. [75993]

Mr. Doug Henderson

The information requested is given in the table:

Date Number of women employed in the armed forces Total strength of the armed forces
1 May 1996 15,596 220,988
1 May 1997 14,834 210,269
1 May 1998 15,732 203,739
1 January 19991 16,119 208,763
1 Latest data available

30. Ms Stuart

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many women were employed in Her Majesty's armed forces(a) on 1 May 1997 and (b) 1 March 1999. [75995]

Mr. Doug Henderson

On 1 May 1997 14,834 women were employed in the armed forces. Figures for 1 March 1999 are not yet available but on 1 January 1999, the latest date for which data are available, there were 16,119 women employed in the armed forces.