§ Miss Fookesasked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement about the strength of reserve forces; and what changes are planned for the future.
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§ Mr. FreemanThe reserve forces make anessential contribution to our defence effort and a continuing expansion is in hand. Details of the strength if the reserves are published in volume II of the annual defence White Paper. The latest available figures, 1 January 1987, are as follows:
'000 Royal Navy/Royal Marines Regular Reserves 26.7 Volunteer Reserves and Auxiliary Forces 6.6 Army Regular Reserves 158.8 Territorial Army 77.9 Ulster Defence Regiment 6.6 Home Service Force 3.3 RAF Regular Reserves 32.5 Volunteer Reserves and Auxiliary Forces 1.3