§ Mr. BluntTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list by arm or corps(a) the intervals between 587W emergency operational tours as at 1 July 1999 and (b) the proportionate manpower cuts taken by each arm or corps in the latest reorganisation of the Territorial Army. [107412]
§ Mr. Spellar[holding answer 1 February 2000]: The average theoretical operational tour interval as at 1 July 1999 for those Arms and Corps for which figures are readily available are set out in the table. These figures reflect the high level of operational commitments that was being experienced at the time: this level of commitment has reduced significantly since then with the reductions in force levels in the Balkans. Figures for the other arms/corps are not routinely calculated.
Arm/Corps Tour interval (months) Royal Armoured Corps 12 Royal Artillery 18 Royal Engineers 7 Royal Signals 6 Infantry 15 The following table shows the proportionate TA manpower reduction for the same arms/corps:
Arm/Corps Manpower reduction (Percentage) Royal Armoured Corps 49 Royal Artillery 25 Royal Engineers 51 Royal Signals 1— Infantry 55 1 No reduction