Written question asked by Lord Clark of Windermere (Labour), in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Monday, 9 December 1996. It was answered by Lord Soames of Fletching (Conservative) on Monday, 9 December 1996 on behalf of the Ministry of Defence.

Ministry of Defence

Question: What is the scale of the proposed reduction in the size of (a) the Army, including the Gurkhas but excluding the Royal Irish Regiment, (b) the RAF and (c) the Royal Navy between (i) 1st April 1990 and 1st April 1999 and (ii) 1st April 1992 and 1st April 1999, under the Government's current plans. - Including figures.

Answer: Dr. David Clark: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is the scale of the proposed reduction in the size of (a) the Army, including the Gurkhas but excluding the Royal Irish Regiment, (b) the RAF and (c) the Royal Navy between (i) 1 April 1990 and 1 April 1999 and (ii) 1 April 1992 and 1 April 1999, under the Government's current plans; and if he will make a statement. [7590] Mr. Soames: The total strength, trained and untrained, of the armed forces, including Gurkhas and other locally employed personnel, on 1 April 1990 and 1 April 1992 was: _________________________________________________________________________________________________. RN Army RAF 1990 63,500 161,500 89,700 1992 62,400 154,100 86,000 _________________________________________________________________________________________________. Under current plans, the total intended strength of the armed forces, inclusive of LEPs, on 1 April 1999 will be: _________________________________________________________________________________________________. RN Army RAF 44,000 115,000 55,500 _________________________________________________________________________________________________.

Secondary information