§ Mr. Menzies CampbellTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the(a) establishment strength, (b) actual strength and (c) level of undermanning in percentage terms of establishment against actual strength was for the(i) Highlanders, (ii) Black Watch, (iii) Royal Scots, (iv) Royal Highland Fusiliers, (v) King's Own Scottish Borderers. (vi) Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders, (vii) Royal Scots Dragoon Guards and (viii) Scots Guards on 1 March in each year from 1995 to 2001; what initiatives are under way in Scotland to address issues of recruitment and retention; and if he will make a statement.[154086]
§ Mr. Spellar[holding answer 20 March 2001]The information requested is as follows.
294W
Establishment Trained strength Percentage ± Highlanders 1995 597 703 17.6 1996 597 648 8.5 1997 659 616 –6.5 1998 658 583 -11.4 1999 658 507 -22.9 2000 658 500 -24 2001 608 494 -18.8 Black Watch 1995 597 591 -1 1996 597 555 -7 1997 597 514 -14 1998 597 539 -9.7 1999 597 511 -14.4 2000 703 508 -27.7 2001 670 566 -15.5 Royal Scots 1995 597 543 -9 1996 663 562 -15.2 1997 663 495 -25.3 1998 663 508 -23.4 1999 663 471 -29 2000 597 470 -21.3 2001 608 515 -15.3 Royal Highland Fusiliers 1995 703 743 5.7 1996 703 617 -12.2 1997 703 595 -15.4 1998 703 621 -11.7 1999 703 581 -17.4 2000 597 626 4.9 2001 607 532 -12.4 King's Own Scottish Borderers 1995 597 594 -0.5 1996 597 575 -3.7 1997 597 546 -8.5 1998 597 567 -5 1999 597 507 -15 2000 597 549 -8 2001 638 585 -8.3 Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders 1995 597 598 0.2 1996 597 523 -12.4 1997 597 557 -6.7 1998 597 593 -0.7 1999 597 601 0.7 2000 597 598 0.2 2001 609 591 -3 Royal Scots Dragoon Guards 1995 411 414 0.7 1996 411 373 9.2 1997 411 386 -6.1 1998 411 372 -9.5 1999 411 372 -9.5 2000 411 403 -1.9 2001 499 415 -17 Scots Guards 1995 597 693 16 1996 597 566 -5.2 1997 597 529 -11.4 1998 597 520 -13 1999 597 531 -11 2000 597 558 -6.5 2001 609 643 5.6 Note:
The figures are at 1 January each year
295WA revision of the Army's recruitment management structure has brought together the field Army, the Territorial Army and the Army Training and Recruiting Agency's resources and expertise to run coherent recruiting campaigns in each of the UK regions, including Scotland. This co-ordinates local and national recruiting activities to best effect. Specifically in Scotland, the Army has recently awarded a trial one-year contract to a commercial consultancy company who will undertake on the ground recruiting activities, in partnership with the existing recruiting organisation, bringing commercial expertise into this area and utilising the company's wide-ranging contacts and database. The company intends to introduce an innovative programme of promotional and marketing activity, highlighting the wide range of career opportunities that the Army provides. Final selection of recruits will, however, remain firmly with the Army.
Army retention is being tackled as a high priority. Our aim is to maintain good levels of retention through policies that genuinely reflect the priorities of our people and their families, both generally and those on deployment. A raft of measures has already been introduced, including acceptance of the latest pay award, and these appear to be having an impact on retention. These measures are not confined to Scotland, but apply throughout the Army in the UK and overseas.