§ Mr. SwayneTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the(a) establishment and (b) strength is of each Territorial Infantry Battalion; and if he will make a statement. [R][9673]
§ Dr. MoonieThe latest available official figures as at 1 July show the establishment and strength of each Territorial Army Infantry Battalion as follows:
Territorial Army Infantry Battalion Establishment Strength 51 Highland Regiment 637 724 52 Lowland Regiment 454 436 3 Prince of Wales Royal Regiment 358 345 Royal Rifle Volunteers 455 462 London Regiment 612 606 Lancastrian and Cumbrian Volunteers 422 421 Tyne Tees Regiment 553 632 West Midlands Regiment 550 499 Kings and Cheshire Regiment 454 464 East of England Regiment 549 649 Rifle Volunteers 550 548 East and West Riding Regiment 519 538 Royal Welsh Regiment 457 413 Rangers 240 230 4 Parachute Regiment 324 454 The hon. Member will note that the strength figures are healthy—matching or exceeding the establishment in more than half of the battalions.
§ Mr. SwayneTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence if soldiers in the Territorial Army are designated casual workers in respect of pension entitlement. [R][9391]
§ Dr. MoonieThe term "casual workers" is not used by the armed forces, and soldiers in the Territorial Army (TA) have not been formally designated as such. However, members of the TA are not eligible for membership of the Armed Forces Pension Scheme because of the terms of their employment. In the part-time Workers (Prevention of Less Favourable Treatment) Regulations 2000 service in the TA (as set out under sections 22 and 27 of the Reserve Forces Act 1996) is specifically excluded.
None the less, since 8 October 2001 members of the TA have had the option of joining the Armed Forces Stakeholder Pension Plan. The Ministry of Defence has designated. Scottish Widows plc to provide this facility to all eligible members of the armed forces. MOD and Scottish Widows are involved in an exercise to inform all members of the armed forces of this new facility.