HC Deb 13 June 1986 vol 99 c326W
Mr. Lyell

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what is the current overall cost of the Home Defence Force.

Mr. Freeman

The Home Service Force is an integral part of the Territorial Army and, other than personnel costs, that is, those costs which can be attributed to an individual, it is not possible, without disproportionate effort, separately to identify all the costs required to calculate the overall cost.

Mr. Lyell

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what is the current cost per man, and what has been the cost per man in past years, of the Home Defence Force.

Mr. Freeman

The cost per man of the Home Service Force in training year 1985–86 was £770 for soldiers and £1,095 for officers. The comparable figures for 1984–85, the earliest year in which figures were compiled, were £574 and £863. These figures do not include elements for accommodation and works services which arc not readily identifiable from such costs for the Territorial Army: it is not possible therefore to calculate the overall cost per man of the Home Service Force.