§ Dr. CableTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many reservists are currently serving with regular forces as mobilised soldiers; and in each of the last five years what was the total number of(a) regular forces, (b) reservists and (c) reservists serving with regular forces as mobilised soldiers. [126202]
§ Mr. SpellarThe total number of reservists currently serving as mobilised soldiers is 649. (This figure consists of members of the Army Reserve and Territorial Army)
Total number of regular forces for each of the last five years Year Number 1995 233,340 1996 221,870 1997 210,823 1998 210,136 1999 208,636
Total number of reservists1for each of the last five years Year Number 1995 348,956 1996 320,636 1997 321,977 1998 317,070 1999 306,440 1The total number of reservists consists of members of: the Royal Fleet Reserve, the Royal Naval Reserve, the Royal Marine Reserve, the Army Reserve, the Territorial Army, the Air Force Reserve and the Royal Auxiliary Air Force
Number of reservists serving as mobilised soldiers in each of the last five years Year Number 1995 1441 1996 1,416 1997 973 1998 756 1999 1,177 1Records start at the first call-up to Bosnia in December 1995. Figures for the rest of 1995 are not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost Note:
The figures include members of the Territorial Army and Army Reserve
266W
§ Mr. ViggersTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will give the detailed costs and benefits of the Royal Naval Reserve utilising reservists as Sea Harrier pilots, with particular reference to(a) the costs of the reservist pilot programme and (b) improved aircraft utilisation. [129282]
§ Mr. SpellarThe Air Branch of the RNR has 13 trained Sea Harrier pilots. All of them are former regular RN Sea Harrier pilots.
Their RNR function is to maintain a close familiarity with current military fast jet operations so that, in the event of call-out, it would take a minimum period of training to bring them up to operational standard and permit them to be deployed alongside, or in support of, their RN counterparts.
The minimum annual training requirement which these pilots are required to achieve is 17 Operational Role Training days. In the period April 1999 to March 2000 they averaged 25 training days. The training is designed to maintain otherwise perishable skills. The cost of 25 days' training, in current individual pilot salary terms, is £2,778.
With regard to the benefits of aircraft utilisation, in recent years one, but very often two, such pilots have at any time been serving in support of Sea Harrier pilot training. Every opportunity is taken to recall these pilots—when their civilian jobs allow—as a very cost-effective way of supporting the Regular forces and ensuring maximum usage of Sea Harrier aircraft.