Written question asked by Lindsay Hoyle (Labour) on Tuesday, 18 July 2000, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Wednesday, 19 July 2000. It was answered by Lord Spellar (Labour) on Wednesday, 19 July 2000 on behalf of the Ministry of Defence.

Ministry of Defence

Question: Statement on what changes he intends to make to the presentation of information on the strength of the armed forces.

Answer: Mr. Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what changes he intends to make to the presentation of information on the strength of the armed forces. [131788] Mr. Spellar: In order to provide a more accurate and relevant picture of the overall full-time manpower available to the Armed Forces, we plan to include in the definition of the strength of the Services all full-time personnel including Full-Time Reserve Service personnel and, in the case of the Army, Gurkhas. In view of their discrete and specialised task in a particular location the Royal Irish (Home Service) will be reported separately. This change will take effect from September 2000. The inclusion of Full-Time Reserve Service personnel is in line with our aim to make reserve forces more relevant and usable and is a natural consequence of the Reserve Forces Act 1996 which provides for the employment of reservists in place of full-time regular personnel.

Secondary information

Type: Written question
Reference: 354 c181W; 131788
Session: 1999-00
Subjects: Armed forces Gurkhas Staff Statistics Reserve forces Royal Irish Regiment
Link: View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk