§ Mrs. Angela KnightTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence what he expects the level of manpower in the Royal Air Force to be in 1999.
§ Mr. HanleyDetailed manpower requirements in five years' time will depend on a number of factors, including changing commitments, developments in technology and the progress of management initiatives such as market testing. The Royal Air Force estimates, however, that once restructuring following the "Options for Change" review has been completed, its broad requirement for manpower will be 64,500, which assumes 4,500 in initial training. The precise number in initial training will depend upon recruiting and outflow at the time.
These figures reflect decisions already taken. They do not take account of any changes in manpower which may arise as a result of the defence costs study.