HC Deb 18 June 2002 vol 387 cc195-7W
Mr. Jenkin

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the net loss of people per month was for the(a) Army, (b) RAF and (c) Navy in each of the last 12 months; and if he will make a statement. [62245]

Mr. Ingram

The information requested is set out in the table.

Month of flow Naval service Army RAF
April 2001 Officers 24 92 14
Other ranks 121 445 96
May 2001 Officers 92 70 20
Other ranks 475 119 116
June 2001 Officers 46 20 27
Other ranks 17 450 35
July 2001 Officers 28 20 80
Other ranks 116 91 44
Month of flow Naval service Army RAF
August 2001 Officers 42 67 15
Other ranks 298 85 33
September 2001 Officers 133 189 0
Other ranks 13 1,406 46
October 2001 Officers 42 32 3
Other ranks 143 0 5
November 2001 Officers 47 52 1
Other ranks 4 202 31
December 2001 Officers 24 49 46
Other ranks 82 251 75
January 2002 Officers 109 250 49
Other ranks 86 810 27
February 2002 Officers 36 21 79
Other ranks 34 194 154
March 2002 Officers 25 16 7
Other ranks 49 3 58

Naval service includes both Royal Navy and Royal Marines.

Figures are for UK regular forces (including both trained and untrained personnel) and therefore exclude Gurkhas, full-time reserve personnel, the Home Service battalions of the Royal Irish Regiment, mobilised reservists and activated reservists.

Mr. Jenkin

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if the manning targets for the three services have been redefined since the publication of the Strategic Defence Review; and if he will make a statement. [62243]

Mr. Ingram

Manpower targets for each of the three services reflect the outcome of the strategic defence review and are set out in the current public service agreements. The target for each service is as followsThe Naval Service to reach full manning within a tolerance band +1-2 per cent, in 2004; The Army to reach 97 per cent, of its manning requirement in 2004; The Royal Air Force to reach full manning against the requirement within a tolerance band of +1-2 per cent, by 2004. The manpower requirement for each service reflects the necessity to deliver the capabilities and meet the commitments that were identified in the strategic defence review. The requirements, and the performance in meeting them, are reported by the Defence Analytical Services Agency both annually in UK defence statistics and quarterly under national statistics arrangements. Copies of these publications can be found in the Library of the House. The Services' manpower requirements are dynamic and subject to annual review in light of evolving doctrine, new technology and equipment, and possible changes to the operating environment. For example, a review of the Army's future manpower requirement has recently been concluded, resulting in a revised manning target of 106,978.

Mr. Jenkin

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many servicemen and servicewomen applied for premature voluntary retirement in(a) 1997, (b) 1999, (c) 2000 and (d) 2001; and if he will make a statement. [62246]

Mr. Ingram

I refer the hon. Member to Tri-Service Publication 5: UK Regular Forces Premature Voluntary Release. This publication is available in the Library of the House and is updated on a quarterly basis.

Mr. Jenkin

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the manpower shortages against trained establishment were in(a) 1998, (b) 1999, (c) 2000 and (d) 2001; and if he will make a statement. [62241]

Mr. Ingram

I refer the hon. Member to Table 1 of the Quarterly Press Release on Services Manpower (TSP 4), a copy of which is held in the Library of the House.

Mr. Jenkin

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the manning targets are for the(a) Army, (b) Navy and (c) RAF; and if he will make a statement. [62242]

Mr. Ingram

Manning targets can be found in the monthly publication; 'UK Armed Forces Strengths and Requirements' (TSP 3), a copy of which will be placed in the Library of the House.

Mr. Jenkin

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the outflow was of Regular Serving Personnel for(a) 1997–98, (b) 1998–99 and (c) 2000–01; and if he will make a statement. [62244]

Mr. Ingram

Outflow from trained strength of the UK Regular Forces is as follows:

1997–98 Financial Year 1998–99 2000–01
Total 19,030 19,750 18,430
Naval Service 4,140 4,140 3,620
Army 10,620 11,250 10,640
RAF 4,270 4,360 4,180

Note:

Due to rounding methods used totals may not always equal the exact sum of the parts.