§ Mr. KeetchTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many times establishment targets for the(a) Army, (b) Navy and (c) RAF have changed since 1998; and what the rationale was for the change each time. [81109]
§ Mr. Ingram[holding answer 19 November 2002]: The full time trained requirement for the Armed Forces is published quarterly by the Defence Analytical Services Agency.
In each Service, however, the requirement for trained manpower is a live and dynamic figure which can change frequently. Causes for such changes include alterations to force structures, evolving doctrine, the introduction of new equipment and technology, changes to the 224W operating environment and the introduction of routine efficiencies. Consequently establishment target figures have been revised many times before and since 1998.
In the Royal Navy to provide a degree of smoothing for planning purposes, a Headmark Requirement for future years is calculated quarterly (issued three times per annum prior to 2001).
The Army now reviews its future manpower requirement annually.
The RAF, for strategic manpower planning purposes, normally captures forecast establishments twice a year.