HC Deb 08 July 1996 vol 281 c26W
Mr. Galbraith

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his answer to the hon. Member for South Shields (Dr. Clark) of 16 May,Official Report, column 559, if he will break down the figures for armed forces by (a) year and (b) service for each year since 1991. [35751]

Mr. Soames

The strength of the Regular armed forces by service, on 1 April for each year since 1991, was as follows:

1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996
RN/RM 62,100 62,100 54,400 55,800 50,900 48,300
Army 154,600 152,400 140,900 128,600 115,900 113,400
RAF 88,400 86,000 80,900 75,700 70,800 64,700
Total 305,100 300,500 281,200 260,100 237,600 226,400
Others1 2,100 2,000 1,900 1,610 1,000 1,000
1 Locally Engaged Service Personnel. Army figures include Gurkha strengths.
All figures contain an element for personnel undergoing training.