§ Mr. BrazierTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence what arrangements are in place for calling up regular reservists as individual reinforcements. [82345]
§ Mr. Doug Henderson[holding answer 27 April 1999]: Depending on the requirement for reservists in any particular operation, Personnel and Record Offices trawl the records of members of the ex-regular reserve forces. Those who are identified as qualified, and, in the case of a voluntary call out, who have also indicated their willingness to be called out, are served a call-out notice. This notice requires them to report to a mobilisation centre where they are accepted into service on completion of various administrative procedures. The call-out order made on 31 March 1999 under section 54 of the Reserve Forces Act 1996 allows the further call out of members of the ex-regular reserve forces as well as members of the volunteer reserve forces to support operations in the former republic of Yugoslavia and in the region of Iraq. During the year 1 April 1998 to 31 March 1999 some 30 per cent. (155) of the Army's reservists who were called out and accepted into service came from the Army's ex-Regular Reserve Force.