HC Deb 24 October 2001 vol 373 c240W
Mr. Swayne

To 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. Moonie

The 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. Swayne

To 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. Moonie

The 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.