Territorial Army (Hansard, 6 April 1998)

§ 19. Mr. Baldry
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the future of the Territorial Army. [36275]

§ Mr. Spring
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the future of the Territorial Army. [36269]

§ Dr. Reid
I refer the hon. Members to the oral answer I gave to the hon. Member for Mid-Norfolk (Mr. Simpson) earlier today.

§ Mr. Brazier
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the(a) peacetime, (b) wartime and (c) estimated actual strength of the TA as a total and by individual corps, together with actual strengths for the infantry and yeomanry or such of this information as is readily available. [38136]

§ Dr. Reid
The volunteer strength of the TA as at 1 February 1998 is 55,786 against an establishment of 59,000.
The detailed information requested is presented below. Figures detailing Arm/Service strength are available only for non-Regular personnel and it has therefore been possible only to present strengths excluding Regulars.
Peacetime establishment is composed of Regular personnel, Non-Regular Permanent Staff (NRPS) and TA personnel. The wartime establishment is achieved by augmenting units with individual reservists, namely ex-Regulars.
47W

Arm/Service TA Reg NRPS Establishment Strength¹

Peacetime Wartime

Household Cav and RAC² 2,568 112 101 2,781 3,219 2,171

RA 4,025 136 118 4,279 4,756 3,130

RE 6,251 248 134 6,633 9,204 5,456

R Signals 5,362 382 153 5,897 7,277 4,447

Infantry 16,602 411 546 17,559 22,710 15,890

AAC 157 25 14 196 306 155

AMS 4,786 159 67 5,012 7,237 4,423

RLC 9,968 293 130 10,391 14,111 9,315

REME 2,190 89 27 2,306 5,168 3,542

AGC 1,170 22 15 1,207 1,571 2,477

Int Corps 729 12 27 768 772 642

OTC 3,500 103 58 3,661 3,661 4,953

RAChD 117 0 0 117 117 103

RAVC 14 0 0 14 14 12

TA Bands³ 840 0 24 864 864 -

Others⁴ 721 0 112 833 833 472

Total 59,000 1,992 1,526 62,518 81,820 57,188

¹Figures by Arm/Service are only available for non-regular Personnel. The total of 57,188 comprises 1,402 NRPS and 55,786 volunteers. It excludes all regular personnel.

² These units relate to the Yeomanry.

³The TA Band establishment is shown separately, but actual strength of Band Personnel is included within Arm/Service.

⁴Includes TA Public Information Officers, Staff, Northern Ireland NRPS Guards.

The future size and shape of the Territorial Army is being considered in the Strategic Defence Review. Prior to this, volunteer strengths had been planned to fall to 54,000 in 1998.

§ Mr. Soames
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is the planned and actual strength of all arms of the Territorial Army in 1998. [37742]

§ Dr. Reid
I refer the hon. Member to the oral answer I gave earlier today to the hon. Member for Canterbury (Mr. Brazier).

Arm/Service	TA	Reg	NRPS	Establishment	Strength¹
				Peacetime	Wartime
Household Cav and RAC²	2,568	112	101	2,781	3,219	2,171
RA	4,025	136	118	4,279	4,756	3,130
RE	6,251	248	134	6,633	9,204	5,456
R Signals	5,362	382	153	5,897	7,277	4,447
Infantry	16,602	411	546	17,559	22,710	15,890
AAC	157	25	14	196	306	155
AMS	4,786	159	67	5,012	7,237	4,423
RLC	9,968	293	130	10,391	14,111	9,315
REME	2,190	89	27	2,306	5,168	3,542
AGC	1,170	22	15	1,207	1,571	2,477
Int Corps	729	12	27	768	772	642
OTC	3,500	103	58	3,661	3,661	4,953
RAChD	117	0	0	117	117	103
RAVC	14	0	0	14	14	12
TA Bands³	840	0	24	864	864	-
Others⁴	721	0	112	833	833	472
Total	59,000	1,992	1,526	62,518	81,820	57,188
¹Figures by Arm/Service are only available for non-regular Personnel. The total of 57,188 comprises 1,402 NRPS and 55,786 volunteers. It excludes all regular personnel.
² These units relate to the Yeomanry.
³The TA Band establishment is shown separately, but actual strength of Band Personnel is included within Arm/Service.
⁴Includes TA Public Information Officers, Staff, Northern Ireland NRPS Guards.