HC Deb 13 December 1999 vol 341 cc28-9W
Mr. Keetch

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many members of the Royal Navy he expects to be(a) at sea and (b) in a non-United Kingdom post on 25 December 1999, 31 December 1999 and 1 January 2000; what percentage of overall strength of the Royal Navy this represents; and if he will make a statement. [101729]

Mr. Spellar

Projections of the number of personnel serving overseas or at sea cover the Christmas period as a whole and are not available on a day-to-day basis. During the period 25 December 1999 to 1 January 2000, it is expected that some 647 Naval Service personnel will be at sea. Some 964 personnel will be serving in non-UK posts over the same period. The combined figure of 1,611 represents approximately 4.2 per cent. of the Naval Service Trained Strength.

Mr. Keetch

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many members of the Royal Navy were(a) at sea and (b) in a non-United Kingdom post on (i) 25 December 1998, (ii) 31 December 1998 and (iii) 1 January 1999; and what percentage of overall strength of the Royal Navy that represented. [101713]

Mr. Spellar

Statistics on the number of personnel serving overseas or at sea cover the Christmas period as a whole and are not available on a day-to-day basis. During the period 25 December 1998 to 1 January 1999, 594 Naval Service personnel were at sea. A further 948 personnel were serving in non-UK posts. The combined figure of 1,542 represented approximately 3.9 per cent. of the Naval Service Trained Strength.

Mr. Keetch

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many members of(a) the RAF, (b) the Army and (c) the Royal Navy were serving (i) abroad accompanied, (ii) abroad unaccompanied and (iii) deployed in front-line duties on (1) 25 December 1998, (2) 31 December 1998 and (3) 1 January 1999; and what percentage of overall strength of each force this represented. [101711]

Mr. Spellar

Statistics on the number of personnel serving overseas cover the Christmas period as a whole and are not available on a day-to-day basis. During the period 25 December 1998 to 1 January 1999, the RAF had 4,403 married personnel serving abroad, 1,574 single personnel serving abroad and 2,382 personnel deployed on front-line duties. The combined figure of 8,359 represented 16.1 per cent. of the RAF's Trained Strength.

During the same period, the Army had 14,404 married personnel serving abroad, 10,034 single personnel serving abroad and 5,197 personnel deployed on front-line duties. The combined figure of 29,635 represented 30.7 per cent. of the Army's Trained Strength.

Also during the same period the Naval Service had 703 married personnel serving abroad, 143 single personnel serving abroad and 696 personnel deployed on front-line duties at sea and ashore. The combined figure of 1,542 represented 3.9 per cent. of the Naval Service's Trained Strength.

Information on whether married personnel were accompanied or unaccompanied is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Mr. Keetch

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many members of(a) the RAF, (b) the Army and (c) the Royal Navy he expects to be serving (i) abroad accompanied, (ii) abroad unaccompanied and (iii) deployed in front-line duties on (1) 25 December 1999, (2) 31 December 1999 and (3) 1 January 2000; what percentage of overall strength of each force this represents; and if he will make a statement. [101712]

Mr. Spellar

Projections of the number of personnel serving overseas cover the Christmas period as a whole and are not available on a day-to-day basis. During the period 25 December 1999 to 1 January 2000, it is expected that the RAF will have 3,641 married personnel serving abroad, 1,160 single personnel serving abroad and 2,252 personnel deployed on front-line duties. The combined figure of 7,053 represents 13.8 per cent. of the RAF's trained strength.

During the same period, the Army is expected to have 12,851 married personnel serving aboard, 14,544 single personnel serving abroad and 5,800 personnel deployed on front-line duties. The combined figure of 33,195 represents 34.4 per cent. of the Army's trained strength.

Also during the same period the Naval Service is expected to have 691 married personnel serving abroad, 154 single personnel serving abroad and 766 personnel deployed on front-line duties at sea and ashore. The combined figure of 1,611 represents 4.2 per cent. of the Naval Service's trained strength.

Information on whether married personnel were accompanied or unaccompanied is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.