§ Mr. Trotterasked the Secretary of State for Defence what is the current strength of each of the three Services' combined cadet forces, the number of cadets joining the Regular Forces each year, and the annual cost of the forces.
§ Dr. GilbertThe strength of the Combined Cadet Force as at 1st April 1976, the latest date for which strength figures are available, was:
Officers and Instructors Cadets Royal Navy sections 301 5,884 Army sections 1,163 27,801 Royal Air Force sections 486 8,944 I regret that information on the number of cadets joining the Regular Forces each year is not available since, although recruits are specifically asked to state their previous cadet service, it is known that many do not do so.
The estimated cost of the Combined Cadet Force in 1977–78 is: 438W
£ million Royal Navy sections 0.092 Army sections 1.500 Royal Air Force sections 0.500 Total 2.092
§ Mr. Trotterasked the Secretary of State for Defence what is the current strength of the university air squadron; how many are training as pilots; how many aircraft are used; how many regular and civilian personnel support the squadrons; how many cadets joined the squadrons in 1976; how many ex-cadets joined the Royal Air Force in 1976; and what is the annual cost of the squadrons.
§ Mr. WellbelovedThe figures are:
Cadet strength of University Air Squadrons (31st December 1976) 714 Cadets under training as pilots 486 Aircraft established for task 81 Support personnel: Regular RAF 202 Civilian 81 Cadets who joined the squadrons in 1976 388 Cadets who left UASs for full time RAF officer service in financial year 1976–77 147 Estimated cost of the squadrons for the 1976–77 financial year: £2.83 million.