§ Mr. MansTo ask the Secretary of State for defence if he will list the front-line level of uniformed manpower in the British Army, the Royal Navy and the Royal Air Force in April 1985, April 1990, April 1995 and the projected level in April 1996 and April 1997. [41379]
§ Mr. SoamesThe approximate strength of uniformed manpower for each of the three services in April of the years requested is as follows:
1985 1990 1995 1996 1997 Royal Navy 70,000 63,000 51,000 48,000 46,000 British Army 170,000 160,000 116,000 113,00 112,000 Royal Air Force 93,000 90,000 71,000 65,000 57,000 These figures are inclusive of trainees and, in the case of the Army, Gurkhas—but not the Royal Irish Regiment, 662W Home Service Force. Estimates of strength for 1996 and 1997 are sensitive to assumptions about recruitment and retention rates.