§ 15. Mr. LlwydTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence what plans he has to increase the strength of the Territorial Army; and if he will make a statement. [96136]
§ Mr. SpellarThe Strategic Defence Review made a number of changes to the Territorial Army, including increases in support functions such as medical services and signallers. The new structure was implemented on398W 1 July this year, and is making the TA more relevant and useful. There are therefore no plans to change the conclusions reached on the size of the Territorial Army.
§ 16. Mr. SwayneTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement regarding his plans for the mobilisation of TA units. [96137]
§ Mr. SpellarWe are examining the feasibility of deploying a formed TA unit or sub-units to sustain peace support operations in the Balkans. No decisions have yet been taken.
§ 22. Mr. WigleyTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many people are currently enlisted with the Territorial Army; how many there were five years ago; and what his projection is for the figures in 12 months' time. [96143]
§ Mr. SpellarThe strength of the Territorial Army as at 1 September, the latest date for which figures are available, was 45,047. The strength of the Territorial Army on 1 September 1994 was 61,047. These figures exclude Non Regular Permanent Staff.
The estimated strength of the Territorial Army in 12 months' time will be our target establishment of 41,200.
§ Mr. OttawayTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment he has made of the impact mobilisation of the Territorial Army would have upon the National Health Service. [97246]
§ Mr. SpellarMy Department and the Department of Health currently have work in hand to assess the implications for the National Health Service of deploying substantial numbers of Territorial Army and other medical Reservists on military operations.
§ Mr. OttawayTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many more doctors he plans to recruit into the Territorial Army or reserve forces; and in what time span. [97244]
§ Mr. SpellarAt present, the three Services are seeking to recruit some 545 doctors into the Volunteer Reserve Forces to meet current shortfalls. There is no specific timescale for achieving this figure but the aim is to recruit the doctors as soon as possible.