§ Lord Redesdaleasked Her Majesty's Government:
How many members of the Territorial Army have achieved their bounty in each of the last five training years; what were the Government's estimates for this five-year period; and what is their estimate for the current training year. [HL4547]
§ The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Ministry of Defence (Lord Bach)The number of Territorial members who have earned their bounty in each of the last five training years (TY) is as follows:
TY 1997–98 TY 1998–99 TY 1999–2000 TY 2000–01 TY 2001–02 32,982 31,721 26,0051 25,853 24,318 1 The drop reflects the reduction in strength of the TA following the SDR. As no targets are set, the Government do not hold records that show the estimated figures for bounty earning. The bounty is used as a financial incentive to encourage members of the TA to achieve a minimum level of training.
§ Lord Redesdaleasked Her Majesty's Government:
How many people are currently enlisted within the Territorial Army; and what are the occupational backgrounds of its members. [HL4548]
§ Lord BachAs at 1 April 2002, the strength of the Territorial Army stood at 39,663 personnel, including those mobilised in support of operations. The occupational backgrounds of its members are too numerous to list but range from peers of the realm, through every grade of management and employee in the public and private sector, to the self-employed and unemployed.
§ Lord Redesdaleasked Her Majesty's Government:
What are its target wastage and fit for role rates for members of the Territorial Army for the year 2002. [HL4549]
§ Lord BachFor the year 2002, the expected rate for wastage is 25 per cent and target rate for fit for role is 60 per cent of the total TA strength. For the year 2001–02 the actual rates were 24 per cent wastage and 59.6 per cent fit for role.
31WA
§ Lord Redesdaleasked Her Majesty's Government:
How many new recruits they estimated the Territorial Army would have for each of the past five years; how many new recruits there were for each of those years; how many they estimate for the year 2002; and how many there have been for the year 2002 so far. [HL4550]
§ Lord BachWe do not hold records that show the estimated figures for new recruits into the Territorial Army for previous years; however, the estimate for 2002 is 7,750 for soldiers. A review of officer recruiting is currently being carried out which will review the estimate for potential officers. The number of new recruits for the last five calendar years and for this year so far is as follows:
Year Officer Soldiers 1997 785 10,579 1998 756 10,144 1999 633 6,7261 2000 869 7,603 2001 790 7,511 2002 199 1,4672 1 Reflects the impact of the Strategic Defence Review reductions. 2 Figures as at 1 April 2002. In addition, the spring recruiting campaign has just concluded and we should see the results of this campaign when the new figures come out later this year.