HC Deb 23 June 1998 vol 314 cc457-8W
Mr. Brazier

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when the Royal Yeomanry and Queen's Own Yeomanry last underwent the periodic REME examination of their vehicles; and if they passed. [45848]

Dr. Reid

[holding answer 18 June 1998]The most recent Royal Yeomanry Periodic REME Examination was conducted between August 1997 and February 1998. The last Queen's Own Yeomanry Periodic REME Examination was conducted between February and March 1998. The vehicles of both units were graded Satisfactory overall.

Mr. Brazier

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when the Queen's Own Yeomanry last carried out their annual gunnery grading; what result they got; and what were the comparable figures for regular armoured reconnaissance units. [45849]

Dr. Reid

[holding answer 18 June 1998]The Queen's Own Yeomanry last conducted a Gunnery Firing Period at Warcop over the period 16–20 April 1997. They carried out all the assessed firing exercises for Territorial Army Yeomanry and achieved a satisfactory standard. The standards laid down for regular armoured reconnaissance units are different from those set for the Territorial Army and therefore it is not possible to make objective comparisons.

Mr. Brazier

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what are the manning levels for officers and soldiers in(a) the Royal Yeomanry and (b) the Queen's Own Yeomanry. [45850]

Dr. Reid

[holding answer 18 June 1998]The manning level of the Royal Yeomanry as a percentage of its own establishment is 89 per cent. for officers and 82 per cent. for soldiers. The Queen's Own Yeomanry has manning levels of 100 per cent. for officer and 92 per cent. for soldiers.

Mr. Brazier

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is the total annual budget for personnel costs, including permanent staff, man training days and bounty, for(a) the Royal Yeomanry and (b) the Queen's Own Yeomanry; and what would be the equivalent cost of manning regiments of similar size and roles with regular soldiers. [45853]

Dr. Reid

[holding answer 18 June 1998]The total annual budgets for personnel costs for the Royal Yeomanry and the Queen's Own Yeomanry are £2.976M and £1.418M respectively. Comparable costs for regular regiments of a similar size and role are not available. However, the costs of paying regular and TA soldiers to perform a particular role for a given period of time are broadly comparable.

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