HC Deb 13 May 1980 vol 984 cc411-2W
19. Mr. Wigley

asked the Secretary of State for Defence how many persons are currently full-time members of each of the Armed Forces; and how this compares with the number 10 years ago.

Mr. Pattie

The full-time strengths of the Armed Forces as at 1 March 1980 were: RN/RM, 72,264; Army, 170,873 and RAF, 89,283. These figures include full-time members of the UDR and locally entered service personnel. The corresponding figures for 1 March 1970 were: RN/RM 88,076; Army, 192,259 and RAF, 113,629.