§ Mr. KeyTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence what will be the United Kingdom Volunteer Reserve Forces' (including the Territorial Army),(a) establishment and (b) strength in (i) 2005, (ii) 2010 and (iii) 2015. [123966]
§ Mr. SpellarThe Reserve Forces' establishments are authorised by Parliament in the Ministry of Defence Votes A, and are based on a detailed assessment of the current and future strategic environment the Services are likely to face. The establishments resulting from the Strategic Defence Review are:
Number Royal Naval Reserve 3,850 Royal Marines Reserve 1,008 Territorial Army 41,204 Volunteer Reserve Air Forces 2,920 It is not possible to predict the detail of the future framework owing to the changing nature of the international security environment. The restructured Territorial Army was in place by 1 April this year, and it is expected to be able to maintain force levels at establishment. The Royal Naval Reserve and Royal Marines Reserve expect to reach their establishments within the next two or three years. The Reserve Air Forces expect to reach their establishment over the next two to three years and beyond.