HC Deb 25 March 1996 vol 274 c443W
Dr. David Clark

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is his Department's estimate of the strength of(a) the RAF, (b) the Army and (c) the Royal Navy by the end of the decade. [21883]

Mr. Soames

[holding answer 21 March 1996]: The estimated strengths for the services at 1 April 1999 are as follows:

  1. (a) Royal Air Force: 55,500
  2. (b) Army: 114,000
  3. (c) Royal Navy: 44,000

The Army estimate includes Gurkha strengths, but excludes the Royal Irish Regiment—home service force. The Royal Navy estimate includes the Royal Marines and Queen Alexandra's Royal Naval Nursing Service. All the figures include an element for personnel undergoing training.