§ Mr. Duncan SmithTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence what percentage of(a) Army, (b) Royal Navy and (c) Royal Air Force personnel are currently committed to active service operations; and what percentage are warned to deploy to such operations. [88124]
§ Mr. Doug Henderson[holding answer 24 June 1999]: (a) Of the Army, 28.6 per cent. actually deployed on operations. The total percentage of the Army committed to operations is 47 per cent. This includes not only the troops actually deployed, but those preparing for imminent deployment as well as those who are in the process of post-deployment recovery and recuperation.
(b) Of the Naval Service (including Royal Marines) around 45 per cent. are on operational sea service.
(c) Of the Royal Air Force, a total of 40 per cent. of personnel are currently deployed, ready to deploy or in immediate support of operations, based in UK and abroad.