Written question asked by Lindsay Hoyle (Labour) on Monday, 1 February 1999, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Monday, 22 February 1999. It was answered by Doug Henderson (Labour) on Monday, 22 February 1999 on behalf of the Ministry of Defence.

Ministry of Defence

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will make a statement on the net effect of the review of the Territorial Army, in terms of number of units per head of the population, in (a) North West England and (b) North Wales. - Includes figures.

Answer: Mr. Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the net effect of the review of the Territorial Army, in terms of number of units per head of the population, in (a) North West England and (b) North Wales. [69318] Mr. Doug Henderson: North Wales does not contain any TA units of Regiment or Battalion size. There are a number of sub-units in Northern Wales, but as sub-units vary considerably in size, a comparison between North Wales and the North West based on numbers of sub-units would not be meaningful. However, a comparison between the two regions based on numbers of TA members shows the net effect of the restructuring of the Territorial Army on each region. Before the review of the Territorial Army, the ratio of members of the TA to population in the North West was 1:1,023. After the review, the ratio was 1:1,366, or a net increase in the ratio of 36 per cent. Before the review of the Territorial Army, the ratio of members of the TA to population in North Wales was 1:1,050. After the review, the ratio was 1:1,832, or a net increase in the ratio of 74 per cent.

Secondary information