HC Deb 03 July 2000 vol 353 c55W
33. Charlotte Atkins

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what percentage of the Army is(a) committed to (b) preparing for and (c) recovering from military operations. [127289]

Mr. Spellar

Some 27 per cent. of the trained Army is committed to Operations. This figure includes units preparing for, deployed on, and recovering from, operations. Of these, 20 per cent. of the trained Army is currently deployed on operations. The total is down from a peak of 47 per cent. committed at the height of the Kosovo campaign in July 1999 and below that inherited from the previous administration.

34. Mr. Ruffley

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many armed forces personnel are serving overseas. [127290]

Mr. Spellar

As at 1 April 2000, 42,710 Armed Forces personnel were serving overseas.