§ Mr. Keith SimpsonTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence what measures he is taking to address the shortage of trained Royal Navy personnel identified in his Department's Performance Report. [84532]
484W
§ Dr. MoonieThe Ministry of Defence's Performance Report 2001–02, paragraph 81, identified a number of shortages in trained personnel. The overall shortage at the end of that year, of 4.3 per cent, in the trained strength against the requirement, had been reduced to 2.9 per cent, by 30 September this year. This has been the result of excellent recruiting performance, a firm control over the requirement and slow but positive progress to reduce outflow. Our efforts in these three areas will of course continue, together with the more flexible use of manpower resources including selective extensions of service, use of full-time reservists and the implementation of the TOPMAST project to reform manpower management. Turning to the specific shortfalls mentioned in the report, although recruiting of Lynx and Sea Harrier pilots is satisfactory, shortages are caused by outflow, and this is being addressed by implementation of the recommendations of the Aircrew Retention Review. For submarine branch personnel, a number of measures are in hand to improve both recruiting and retention. Recruiting for Royal Marines Other Ranks is healthy and retention has recently improved, but we are continuing work on retaining experienced junior ranks.
§ Dr. Julian LewisTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence what(a) the target and (b) the actual recruitment figures were for Royal Navy personnel in each of the past five years. [84371]
§ Dr. MoonieThe target and recruitment figures for the Royal Navy in each of the past five years are as follows:
Year Target Actual Recruitment 2002–03 5,060 2,4701 2001–02 5,042 5,013 2000–01 4,844 4,620 1999–2000 5,019 4,950 1998–99 5,088 4,770 1 Figures quoted are intake as at 1 October 2002 and are rounded to nearest 10.