§ Mr. KeetchTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence on how many occasions since May 1997 sponsored reserves have been called up; how many were called up each time and for what service; and if he will make a statement. [113252]
§ Dr. MoonieThe Royal Navy and the Army have only called out their sponsored reserves on one occasion, namely last March when 36 members of the Royal Naval sponsored reserves and two members of the Army sponsored reserves were called out to support operations in the Gulf. They all have been, or shortly will be, demobilised. Members of the RAF sponsored reserves have been called out on a regular basis since October 2000 but the exact occasions and numbers have not been recorded centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost. Currently, 18 members of the RAF sponsored reserves are called out for permanent service.
§ Dr. MurrisonTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the bearing of reserve forces by service against requirement was in each year since 1990; and what the current bearing against requirement is. [113963]
§ Dr. MoonieThe information is set out in the following tables:
Strength Royal Naval Reserve Territorial Army Royal Auxiliary Air Force 1990 7,000 81,900 1,722 1991 7,000 82,800 1,773 1992 7,000 80,300 1,814 1993 5,600 68,700 1,765 1994 4,600 65,000 1,762 1995 3,700 59,900 1,318 1996 3,500 57,300 1,188 1997 3,600 57,600 1,361 1998 3,700 57,000 1,648 1999 3,800 51,800 1,724 2000 4,100 44,800 1,796 2001 4,100 41,500 1,665 2002 4,100 40,300 1,582 2003 3,183 39,011 1,602 Source:
DASA (Tri-Service)
786W
Establishment Royal Naval Reserve Territorial Army Royal Auxiliary Air Force 1990 1— 89,960 1— 1991 1— 95,068 1— 1992 1— 79,600 1— 1993 1— 79,871 1— 1994 3,500 75,624 1— 1995 3,500 63,950 1— 1996 3,500 59,000 1— 1997 3,580 72,179 1— 1998 3,580 65,000 2,288 1999 3,580 47,200 2,251 2000 3,580 41,024 2,235 2001 3,580 41,024 2,203 2002 3,580 41,024 2,194 2003 3,231 41,893 2,224 1 Not available/applicable Separate figures are not available for the Royal Marines Reserve. However, the current strength of the RMR is 852 against an establishment of 990.
§ Dr. MurrisonTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many resignations from the reserve forces there have been since 1 January; and how many there were in each year since 1990. [113964]
§ Dr. MoonieThe information requested is not centrally held and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
§ Dr. MurrisonTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) what recent assessment has been made of the reasons for Reserve Forces personnel choosing to resign;[113965]
(2) what measures have been taken to reduce the number of resignations from the Reserve Forces. [113966]
§ Dr. MoonieAlthough such information would be held at unit level, there has been no recent centralised assessment of the reasons why Reserve Forces personnel resign. However, there are currently no indications to suggest that the recent call-out of reservists to support Operation TELIC will result in an increased rate of resignation from the Reserve Forces.
As part of the follow-up work that normally accompanies large scale operations, we will be contacting reservists who served on Operation TELIC to identify any lessons that may be learned from their experience.
We shall also be reviewing the relevant legislation to ensure that there are appropriate financial safeguards for both reservists and their employers and that job security is provided.