HC Deb 19 June 2003 vol 407 cc350-1W
Mr. Keetch

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the critical manning groups which have been identified in(a) the Army and (b) the RAF; and what the shortfall against requirement was in each case. [119450]

Mr. Caplin

The critical manning groups identified in the Army and the RAF are shown in the following tables:

RAF (as at I May 2003)
Branch/Trade Trained Strength Requirement Shortfall Shortfall (percentage)
Aircrew Officers
JO (Weapons Systems Officer) 660 733 -73 -10
Non-commissioned Aircrew
Weapons Systems Operator (Air Electronics) 430 476 -46 -10
Weapon System Operator (Linguist) 39 58 -19 -33
Ground Branch officers
Medical Officers 187 266 -79 -30
Princess Mary's RAF Nursing Sendee 117 142 -25 -18
Electrical Trades
Gen Tech E 578 661 -83 -13
Medical Trades
Nurses 270 308 -38 -12
Technicians 113 129 -16 -12
Motor Transport (MT) Driver 1,171 1,300 -129 -10
MT Technician/Mechanic 394 478 -84 -18
Medical Assistant 288 350 -62 -18
Chef 645 731 -86 -12

Note:

For the RAF critical has been defined as a deficit of 10 per cent. or more.