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Ministry of Defence

Answer

Mr. Keetch: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many members of (a) the RAF, (b) the Army and (c) the Royal Navy were serving (i) abroad accompanied, (ii) abroad unaccompanied and (iii) deployed in front-line duties on (1) 25 December 1998, (2) 31 December 1998 and (3) 1 January 1999; and what percentage of overall strength of each force this represented. [101711] Mr. Spellar: Statistics on the number of personnel serving overseas cover the Christmas period as a whole and are not available on a day-to-day basis. During the period 25 December 1998 to 1 January 1999, the RAF had 4,403 married personnel serving abroad, 1,574 single personnel serving abroad and 2,382 personnel deployed on front-line duties. The combined figure of 8,359 represented 16.1 per cent. of the RAF's Trained Strength. During the same period, the Army had 14,404 married personnel serving abroad, 10,034 single personnel serving abroad and 5,197 personnel deployed on front-line duties. The combined figure of 29,635 represented 30.7 per cent. of the Army's Trained Strength. Also during the same period the Naval Service had 703 married personnel serving abroad, 143 single personnel serving abroad and 696 personnel deployed on front-line duties at sea and ashore. The combined figure of 1,542 represented 3.9 per cent. of the Naval Service's Trained Strength. Information on whether married personnel were accompanied or unaccompanied is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Secondary information

Type

Written question

Reference

341 c28-9W; 101711

Session

1999-00

Subjects

Armed forces Army Christmas Deployment Air force Public holidays Staff Navy Working hours

Contains statistics

Yes