HC Deb 20 February 1991 vol 186 c190W
Mr. Menzies Campbell

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) what is the current establishment of the Territorial Army; and how many vacancies there are;

(2) what will be the establishment of the Territorial Army if the proposals contained in "Options for Change" are fully implemented;

(3) what units of the Territorial Army will be retained if the proposals contained in "Options for Change" are fully implemented.

Mr. Madden

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what was the total spent in the last year on recruitment to the reserves; how much has been spent from 1 January 10 date; whether the reserves are at full establishment level; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Archie Hamilton

[holding answer 14 February 1991]: Spending on recruitment for the reserves in 1989–90 totalled some £3.55 million. A total of £1.5 million has been spent in the current financial year, up to the end of January, of which some £10,000 relates to bills presented since 1 January.

Previously announced plans for the Territorial Army envisaged an expansion to a total strength, including the Home Service Force, of about 90,000. The current strength is about 75,000. We are not yet in a position to take final decisions on the future size and shape of either organisation.