§ 24. Mr. PatnickTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence what progress is being made in expanding the reserve and auxiliary forces.
§ Mr. NeubertThe combined strength of the volunteer reserves, not including the Ulster Defence Regiment, stands at almost 84,500. This represents an increase of over 28 per cent. since 1979 when expansion measures were first set in hand. Over that period the strength of the TA has increased by 13,500 and the HSF has added a further 3,000. Comparable increases in the strengths of other services are RAux AF and RAFVR, 1,330 and RMR, over 400. In addition, the RNF has raised its strength by about 400 since the decision was taken to expand it in 1984.