HC Deb 07 July 2003 vol 408 c584W
Mr. Jenkin

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence pursuant to his answer of 9 June 2003,Official Report, column 649W, on armed forces personnel, what percentage of (a) Naval Service, (b) Army and (c) Royal Air Force personnel are immediately available for operational duties. [123659]

Mr. Ingram

[holding answer 4 July 2003]: "Immediate availability" for operational duties is subject to the same factors that I set out in my answer to the hon. Gentleman of 9 June 2003, Official Report, columns 648–49W, including particularly the nature of the operation and the severity of the threat. It is, therefore, impractical to refer to a specific percentage.