HC Deb 03 March 1999 vol 326 cc776-7W
Mr. Hancock

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many foreign nationals are currently serving in the UK armed forces; and which countries they come from. [72954]

Mr. Spellar

The following table shows the recorded number of foreign nationals serving in the Army at January 1999:

Nationality Army
Total 448
Australian 64
Canadian 64
New Zealander 55
Zimbabwean 41
South African 41
Jamaican 27
Fijian 19
Indian 13
St. Helenian 12
Maltese 10
Trinidadian 7
Kenyan 6
Barbadian 5
Ghanaian 5
Pakistani 5
German 5
Others 69

The 'Others' category amalgamates all nationalities in the Army which have fewer than five people in the individual categories.

There are also 244 Irish Nationals serving in the Army.

The table shows the recorded number of foreign nationals serving in the Royal Air Force at February 1999.

Nationality Royal Air Force
Total 327
Canadian 41
Australian 37
New Zealander 32
Indian 26
Pakistani 26
Jamaican 23
Kenyan 20
Zimbabwean 16
German 12
American 11
Maltese 9
Barbadian 8
Malaysian 6
Others 60

The 'Others' category amalgamates all nationalities in the RAF which have fewer than five people in the individual categories.

There are also 155 Irish nationals serving in the RAF.

Information on the number of foreign nationals serving in the Naval Service is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.