§ Mr. KeetchTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the number of premature voluntary release applications(a) received and (b) approved in the last 12 months in (i) 1 Para, (ii) 2 Para and (iii) 3 Para; and if he will make a statement. [169306]
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§ Mr. CaplinThe number of Premature Voluntary Release (PVR) applications received from soldiers in the Parachute Regiment between 1 April 2003 and 31 March 2004 was
1st Battalion Parachute Regiment—702nd Battalion Parachute Regiment—653rd Battalion Parachute Regiment—60All soldiers have a right to PVR once they have served the minimum engagement period, and provided they give appropriate notice. Information is not held centrally on the proportion of these applications that were subsequently withdrawn, but across the Army withdrawals amounted to some 38 per cent. of the total in the same period.
PVR information for officers is not currently broken down by unit, and could only be provided at disproportionate cost.
§ Mr. KeetchTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the strength of the Parachute Regiment at(a) 1 April 2003 and (b) 1 April 2004 and the estimated strength for 1 April 2005; and if he will make a statement. [169307]
§ Mr. CaplinAs at 1 April 2004, the strength of the Parachute Regiment was 1,740. The corresponding figure on 1 April 2003 was 1,795. These figures exclude personnel from other units temporarily attached to the Parachute Regiment.
Projected strength for 1 April 2005 is not expected to differ significantly from the current level.