Service Chaplains (Hansard, 23 January 2003)

§ Sandra Gidley
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the ratio is of(a) uniformed and (b) civilian chaplains to service personnel, broken down by service. [92675]

§ Dr. Moonie
The ratio of chaplains to service personnel is as follows:

Ratio of service chaplains to service personnel Ratio of civilian chaplains to service personnell

Royal Navy 1:594 1:1318

Army 1:746 1:665

RAF 1:725 1:697

¹The ratio of civilian chaplains to service personnel has been calculated on the basis that chaplains are in full time employment. However, there are no full time officiating chaplains in the Royal Navy and RAF. Officiating chaplains are local clergy employed on a part time basis (usually half day a week) to assist with duties in the absence of a service chaplain.

Note:
Ratios are based on January 2003 strengths, with the exception of the Army figures which are as at 1 December 2002

§ Sandra Gidley
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many(a) uniformed and (b) civilian chaplains there are in each of the three services, broken down by denomination. [92680]

§ Dr. Moonie
There are currently 293 service chaplains and 275 civilian 'officiating' chaplains serving with the armed forces. The table provides a breakdown by denomination.

	Ratio of service chaplains to service personnel	Ratio of civilian chaplains to service personnell
Royal Navy	1:594	1:1318
Army	1:746	1:665
RAF	1:725	1:697
¹The ratio of civilian chaplains to service personnel has been calculated on the basis that chaplains are in full time employment. However, there are no full time officiating chaplains in the Royal Navy and RAF. Officiating chaplains are local clergy employed on a part time basis (usually half day a week) to assist with duties in the absence of a service chaplain.