§ Mr. Bob RussellTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many cadets were enrolled in each of the cadet forces in(a) May 1979 and (b) May 1997; and how many are enrolled at the present time. [57171]
§ Mr. Doug HendersonThe numbers of cadets enrolled in the Cadet Forces at 31 March in each of the years in question were as follows:
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31 March 1979 31 March 1997 31 March 1998 Sea Cadet Corps 18,403 12,011 11,762 Army Cadet Force 44,878 39,827 40,773 Air Training Corps 34,445 33,196 32,807 Combined Cadet Force 44,093 39,716 39,460 Totals 141,819 124,750 124,802 The cadet organisation do not calculate their cadet numbers on a monthly basis, totals are normally taken at the end of the financial year. The given figures are therefore at 31 March for each of the years in question.
It should be noted that there is a possibility that the March 79 Sea Cadet Corps figure of 18,403 could include "Junior" members who are not enrolled into the Corps. "Junior" numbers currently stand at just over 3,000, and are not included in the March 97 and March 98 Sea Cadet figures.