HC Deb 03 February 1994 vol 236 cc900-3W
Mr. Meacher

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what percentage reductions have been made in the total number of(a) armed forces, (b) military establishments, (c) naval craft, (d) aircraft, (e) munitions factories, (f) naval dockyards and (g) regiments since 1979; and what were the numbers in each case in 1979 and at the latest available date.

Mr. Hanley

The information requested is as follows:

(a) Armed Forces
1979 Latest
Royal Navy and Royal Marines
Regulars 73,500 (1 January 1979) 57,427 (1 November 1993)
Reserves 35,300 (1 January 1979) 31,100 (1 April 1993)
Total 108,800 88,527
Total percentage change -19
Army
Regulars (including Gurkhas) 156,200 (1 April 1979) 130,900 (1 January 1994)
Reserves 59,400 (1 April 1979) 64,100 (1 December 1993)
Total 215,600 195,600
Total percentage change -10
Royal Air Force
Regulars 85,400 (1 January 1979) 78,900 (1 April 1993)
Reserves 30,600 (1 January 1979) 47,800 (1 April 1993)
Total 116,600 126,700
Total percentage change +9

(Date of information in brackets).

(b) Military Establishozents. There are several possible definitions of the term "Military Establishment". On any definition, the information could be provided only at disproportionate cost. Records for 1979 are not held.

(c) Naval Craft. The figures for the number of major warships (vessels of frigate size and above) are as follows:

1979 Latest
1103 265
1 As at 1 January 1979.
2 As at 31 December 1993.

Total percentage change: -37.

(d) Aircraft. Figures available for 1979 only cover squadrons, flights or regiments, and do not give numbers of individual aircraft. Because the numbers of aircraft within units has changed over the years, a percentage change figure based on the numbers of units would not be meaningful. The available figures are as follows:

Royal Navy

  • 1 January 1979
  • 13 squadrons plus 49 flights
  • 1 April 1993
  • 18 squadrons plus 34 flights

Army

  • 1 April 1979
  • 6 Army Air Corps regiments
  • 1 January 1994
  • 5 Army Air Corps regiments

Royal Air force

  • 1 April 1979
  • 14 Strike/Attack squadrons
  • 5 Offensive Support squadrons
  • 4 Maritime Patrol squadrons
  • 5 Reconnaissance squadrons
  • 16 Air Defence squadrons
  • 1 Airborne Early Warning squadron
  • 9 Air Transport squadrons
  • 2 Tanker squadrons
  • 2 Search and Rescue squadrons
  • Total: 58
  • 1 February 1994
  • 7 Strike/Attack squadrons
  • 5 Offensive Support squadrons
  • 3 Maritime Patrol squadrons
    • 902
  • 5 Reconnaissance squadrons
  • 7 Air Defence squadrons
  • 1 Airborne Early Warning squadron
  • 14 Air Transport squadrons
  • 1 Tanker squadron
  • 2 Search and Rescue squadrons
  • Total: 45

(e) Munitions Factories. Records of royal ordnance factories in 1979 are not held. Royal Ordnance ceased to be part of the Ministry of Defence in January 1985.

The figures are as follows:

(f) Naval Dockyards
1979 1994
5 2

Percentage change: -60 per cent.

(g) Regiments Taking "regiments" to mean front-line units, the figures are as follows:

Regular Army front-line units
1 April 1979 1 January 1994
Royal Armoured Corps Regiments 19 10
Royal Artillery Regiments 22 15
Royal Engineer Regiments 9 12
Infantry Battalions 56 45
SAS Regiment 1 1
Army Air Corps Regiments 6 5
Total 113 88

Total percentage change: -22 per cent.

TA Front-line units
1 April 1979 1 January 1994
Royal Armoured Corps Regiments 5 5
Royal Artillery Regiments 5 5
Royal Engineer Regiments 7 9
Infantry Battalions 37 36
SAS Regiments 2 2
Total 56 57

Total percentage change: +2 per cent.