HC Deb 03 December 1969 vol 792 cc291-2W
Sir T. Beamish

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what was the strength of the Territorial and Auxiliary Volunteer Reserve on the latest date for which figures are available; by how much this was short of establishment; how this compares with the overall strength of the volunteer reserves 12 months and five years earlier; and on what grounds he is satisfied with the present strength.

Mr. Richard

The strength at the end of September was 46,840. This is 12,200 short of the corresponding establishment; 4,600 less than the overall strength of the volunteer reserves twelve months ago; and 75,800 less than that strength five years earlier. I regard recruiting as more than satisfactory in that the strength has increased during this year by as much as 6,500.