Asked by: Baroness Davidson of Lundin Links (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask His Majesty's Government by how much the (1) British Army, (2) Royal Navy, and (3) Royal Air Force are underrecruited.
Answered by Lord Coaker - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)
I refer the Noble Baroness to the response given by the Minister for the Armed Forces last November (Question 11998).
Asked by: Baroness Davidson of Lundin Links (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask His Majesty's Government how many service personnel there are in the British Armed Forces, broken down by (1) service arm, and (2) gender.
Answered by Lord Coaker - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)
The current strength (as at 1 January 2025) of the UK Armed Forces is 180,779 which includes:
The strength of each of the Services, including Regular Forces, Volunteer Reserves and Other Personnel is:
The gender of Armed Forces personnel (as at 1 October 2024) is as follows:
Gender figures are for Regular and Future Reserve 2030 Forces only; data regarding other categories of SP is not available.
Asked by: Baroness Davidson of Lundin Links (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask Her Majesty's Government how much money they have spent on recruitment campaigns to the uniformed military services, broken down by service arm.
Answered by Baroness Goldie - Shadow Minister (Defence)
The recorded expenditure on advertising by the three Services, for the most recent full financial year, is as follows:
Financial Year | Royal Navy | Army | Royal Air Force |
2020-21 | £16,937,533 | £11,819,962 | £5,721,246 |
Asked by: Baroness Davidson of Lundin Links (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask Her Majesty's Government how many people have been successfully recruited to the (1) British Army, (2) Royal Air Force, and (3) Royal Navy, in each of the last five years.
Answered by Baroness Goldie - Shadow Minister (Defence)
The requested information can be found in the tables below:
Table 1 - UK Regular Forces and Gurkhas Strength by Service as at 1 July for the years 2017 to 2021
| 1 July 2017 | 1 July 2018 | 1 July 2019 | 1 July 2020 | 1 July 2021 |
Royal Navy/Royal Marines UK Regular Forces | 32,460 | 32,380 | 32,470 | 33,050 | 34,040 |
Army UK Regular Forces and Gurkhas | 85,570 | 83,020 | 81,890 | 82,630 | 85,800 |
Regulars | 82,610 | 79,900 | 78,480 | 78,880 | 81,820 |
Gurkhas | 2,960 | 3,120 | 3,410 | 3,750 | 3,980 |
Royal Air Force UK Regular Forces | 33,010 | 32,850 | 32,830 | 32,820 | 33,370 |
UK Regular Forces and Gurkhas Total | 151,040 | 148,250 | 147,190 | 148,500 | 153,220 |
Notes to table 1:
1. UK Regulars comprise Full time Service personnel, including Nursing Services, but excluding Full Time Reserve Service (FTRS) personnel, Gurkhas (which have been included separately in the table), mobilised Reservists, Military Provost Guard Service (MPGS), Locally Engaged Personnel (LEP), Non Regular Permanent Staff (NRPS), High Readiness Reserve (HRR) and Expeditionary Forces Institute (EFI) personnel. Regular figures include those personnel that have transferred from GURTAM to UKTAP
2. Unless otherwise stated, includes trained and untrained personnel
3. Figures have been rounded to the nearest 10, though numbers ending in a “5” have been rounded to the nearest multiple of 20 to prevent the systematic bias caused by always rounding numbers upwards. Additionally, totals and sub-totals are rounded separately and so may not equal the sums of their rounded parts
4. UK Regular Forces and Gurkhas strength figures are also available in Table 3b of the quarterly Service Personnel Statistics publication, produced by Analysis (Tri-Service): https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/quarterly-service-personnel-statistics-2021
5. These figures cover all forces including those based overseas.
Table 2 - Intake to UK Regular Forces and Gurkhas by Service for 12 months ending 30 June for the years 2017 to 2021
| 30 June 2017 | 30 June 2018 | 30 June 2019 | 30 June 2020 | 30 June 2021 |
Royal Navy/Royal Marines UK Regular Forces | 2,880 | 3,070 | 3,240 | 3,720 | 4,010 |
Army UK Regular Forces and Gurkhas | 8,240 | 6,970 | 8,200 | 9,560 | 11,190 |
Regulars | 7,970 | 6,700 | 7,800 | 9,130 | 10,850 |
Gurkhas | 270 | 270 | 400 | 430 | 340 |
Royal Air Force UK Regular Forces | 1,950 | 2,150 | 2,480 | 2,400 | 2,490 |
UK Regular Forces and Gurkhas Total | 13,070 | 12,190 | 13,920 | 15,690 | 17,690 |
Notes to table 2:
1. UK Regulars comprise Full time Service personnel, including Nursing Services, but excluding Full Time Reserve Service (FTRS) personnel, Gurkhas (which have been included separately in the table), mobilised Reservists, Military Provost Guard Service (MPGS), Locally Engaged Personnel (LEP), Non Regular Permanent Staff (NRPS), High Readiness Reserve (HRR) and Expeditionary Forces Institute (EFI) personnel. Regular figures include those personnel that have transferred from GURTAM to UKTAP
2. Unless otherwise stated, includes trained and untrained personnel
3. Figures show Intake to UK Regular Forces, both trained and untrained. Intake comprises new entrants, re-entrants, direct trained entrants (including professionally qualified Officers), intake to the Army from the Gurkhas and intake from the reserves
4. Figures have been rounded to the nearest 10, though numbers ending in a “5” have been rounded to the nearest multiple of 20 to prevent the systematic bias caused by always rounding numbers upwards. Additionally, totals and sub-totals are rounded separately and so may not equal the sums of their rounded parts
5. UK Regular Forces Intake figures (not including Gurkhas) are also available in Table 5a of the quarterly Service Personnel Statistics publication, produced by Analysis (Tri-Service): https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/quarterly-service-personnel-statistics-2021
Asked by: Baroness Davidson of Lundin Links (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask Her Majesty's Government how many members of the (1) British Army, (2) Royal Air Force, and (3) Royal Navy there are; and what were the figures for each service for each of the last five years.
Answered by Baroness Goldie - Shadow Minister (Defence)
The requested information can be found in the tables below:
Table 1 - UK Regular Forces and Gurkhas Strength by Service as at 1 July for the years 2017 to 2021
| 1 July 2017 | 1 July 2018 | 1 July 2019 | 1 July 2020 | 1 July 2021 |
Royal Navy/Royal Marines UK Regular Forces | 32,460 | 32,380 | 32,470 | 33,050 | 34,040 |
Army UK Regular Forces and Gurkhas | 85,570 | 83,020 | 81,890 | 82,630 | 85,800 |
Regulars | 82,610 | 79,900 | 78,480 | 78,880 | 81,820 |
Gurkhas | 2,960 | 3,120 | 3,410 | 3,750 | 3,980 |
Royal Air Force UK Regular Forces | 33,010 | 32,850 | 32,830 | 32,820 | 33,370 |
UK Regular Forces and Gurkhas Total | 151,040 | 148,250 | 147,190 | 148,500 | 153,220 |
Notes to table 1:
1. UK Regulars comprise Full time Service personnel, including Nursing Services, but excluding Full Time Reserve Service (FTRS) personnel, Gurkhas (which have been included separately in the table), mobilised Reservists, Military Provost Guard Service (MPGS), Locally Engaged Personnel (LEP), Non Regular Permanent Staff (NRPS), High Readiness Reserve (HRR) and Expeditionary Forces Institute (EFI) personnel. Regular figures include those personnel that have transferred from GURTAM to UKTAP
2. Unless otherwise stated, includes trained and untrained personnel
3. Figures have been rounded to the nearest 10, though numbers ending in a “5” have been rounded to the nearest multiple of 20 to prevent the systematic bias caused by always rounding numbers upwards. Additionally, totals and sub-totals are rounded separately and so may not equal the sums of their rounded parts
4. UK Regular Forces and Gurkhas strength figures are also available in Table 3b of the quarterly Service Personnel Statistics publication, produced by Analysis (Tri-Service): https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/quarterly-service-personnel-statistics-2021
5. These figures cover all forces including those based overseas.
Table 2 - Intake to UK Regular Forces and Gurkhas by Service for 12 months ending 30 June for the years 2017 to 2021
| 30 June 2017 | 30 June 2018 | 30 June 2019 | 30 June 2020 | 30 June 2021 |
Royal Navy/Royal Marines UK Regular Forces | 2,880 | 3,070 | 3,240 | 3,720 | 4,010 |
Army UK Regular Forces and Gurkhas | 8,240 | 6,970 | 8,200 | 9,560 | 11,190 |
Regulars | 7,970 | 6,700 | 7,800 | 9,130 | 10,850 |
Gurkhas | 270 | 270 | 400 | 430 | 340 |
Royal Air Force UK Regular Forces | 1,950 | 2,150 | 2,480 | 2,400 | 2,490 |
UK Regular Forces and Gurkhas Total | 13,070 | 12,190 | 13,920 | 15,690 | 17,690 |
Notes to table 2:
1. UK Regulars comprise Full time Service personnel, including Nursing Services, but excluding Full Time Reserve Service (FTRS) personnel, Gurkhas (which have been included separately in the table), mobilised Reservists, Military Provost Guard Service (MPGS), Locally Engaged Personnel (LEP), Non Regular Permanent Staff (NRPS), High Readiness Reserve (HRR) and Expeditionary Forces Institute (EFI) personnel. Regular figures include those personnel that have transferred from GURTAM to UKTAP
2. Unless otherwise stated, includes trained and untrained personnel
3. Figures show Intake to UK Regular Forces, both trained and untrained. Intake comprises new entrants, re-entrants, direct trained entrants (including professionally qualified Officers), intake to the Army from the Gurkhas and intake from the reserves
4. Figures have been rounded to the nearest 10, though numbers ending in a “5” have been rounded to the nearest multiple of 20 to prevent the systematic bias caused by always rounding numbers upwards. Additionally, totals and sub-totals are rounded separately and so may not equal the sums of their rounded parts
5. UK Regular Forces Intake figures (not including Gurkhas) are also available in Table 5a of the quarterly Service Personnel Statistics publication, produced by Analysis (Tri-Service): https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/quarterly-service-personnel-statistics-2021
Asked by: Baroness Davidson of Lundin Links (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask Her Majesty's Government how many unfilled posts there are in (1) the Army Reserve, (2) the Naval Reserve, and (3) the RAF reserve; and what percentage of understaffing these unfilled posts represent.
Answered by Baroness Goldie - Shadow Minister (Defence)
The Integrated Review and Spending Review (IR/SR) introduced greater flexibility in how Defence could employ its workforce types (Armed Forces Regular, Reserve, Defence Civilian and Contractors) which has made the continued use of a fixed workforce requirement for individual components of the Whole Force less appropriate. We are in the process of agreeing a new Indicative Planned Strength which will provide a clearer indication of the Armed Forces planned strength going forward. It will reflect the Whole Force Strategic Workforce plans that are currently being finalised and reflect the changes in organisational structure introduced following the IR/SR.
Asked by: Baroness Davidson of Lundin Links (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what estimate they have made of the number of unfilled posts in the (1) British Army, (2) Royal Air Force, and (3) Royal Navy; and what percentage of understaffing these unfilled posts represent.
Answered by Baroness Goldie - Shadow Minister (Defence)
The Integrated Review and Spending Review (IR/SR) introduced greater flexibility in how Defence could employ its workforce types (Armed Forces Regular, Reserve, Defence Civilian and Contractors) which has made the continued use of a fixed workforce requirement for individual components of the Whole Force less appropriate. We are in the process of agreeing a new Indicative Planned Strength which will provide a clearer indication of the Armed Forces planned strength going forward. It will reflect the Whole Force Strategic Workforce plans that are currently being finalised and reflect the changes in organisational structure introduced following the IR/SR.
Asked by: Baroness Davidson of Lundin Links (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask Her Majesty's Government how many uniformed British Army personnel are based in the UK, broken down by home nation.
Answered by Baroness Goldie - Shadow Minister (Defence)
As at 1 July 2021, there are 111,270 British Army Regular, Gurkha and Reserve Personnel based in the UK.
Table 1. Regulars based in the UK, by Country as at 1 July 2021
Country | Strength |
Total | 78,420 |
England | 71,380 |
Wales | 1,460 |
Scotland | 3,910 |
Northern Ireland | 1,680 |
Table 2. Gurkhas based in the UK, by Country as at 1 July 2021
Country | Strength |
Total | 3,300 |
England | 3,210 |
Wales | 90 |
Scotland | 10 |
Northern Ireland | - |
Table 3. FR20 Reserves based in the UK, by Country as at 1 July 2021
Country | Strength |
Total | 29,550 |
England | 21,480 |
Wales | 1,700 |
Scotland | 4,490 |
Northern Ireland | 1,880 |
Notes
Asked by: Baroness Davidson of Lundin Links (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask Her Majesty's Government to ask Her Majesty’s Government how many people have been successfully recruited to the (1) British Army Reserve, (2) RAF Reserve, and (3) Royal Naval Reserve, in each of the last five years.
Answered by Baroness Goldie - Shadow Minister (Defence)
The requested information can be found in the table below:
Intake to Future Reserves 2020 Strength by Service for 12 Months Ending 30 June for the years 2017 to 2021
12 months ending as at: | 30 June 2017 | 30 June 2018 | 30 June 2019 | 30 June 2020 | 30 June 2021 |
Maritime Reserve | 850 | 750 | 920 | 880 | 800 |
Army Reserve | 4,930 | 3,780 | 3,820 | 4,050 | 4,260 |
Royal Air Force Reserve | 660 | 660 | 620 | 530 | 530 |
Future Reserves 2020 Total | 6,440 | 5,190 | 5,360 | 5,460 | 5,590 |
Notes to Table:
1. Future Reserves 2020 (FR20) includes volunteer reserves who are mobilised, High Readiness Reserves (HRR), and volunteer reserve (VR) personnel serving on Additional Duties Commitment (ADC) or Full Time Reserve Service (FTRS) contracts. Sponsored Reserves who provide a more cost-effective solution than volunteer reserve are also included in the Army Reserve FR20. Non-Regular Permanent Staff (NRPS), Expeditionary Forces Institute (EFI) and University Officer Cadets and Regular Reservists are excluded. This cohort includes both trained and untrained personnel
2. FR20 programme monitoring intake statistics are derived by month-on-month comparisons of strength. These figures comprise any intake into the FR20 trained and untrained populations and include personnel coming from the Regular Armed Forces, or any other reserve population not included in the FR20
3. All Services intake includes transfers between the Maritime Reserve, Army Reserve (Gp A) inc. VR FTRS and RAF Reserves
4. Figures have been rounded to the nearest 10, though numbers ending in a “5” have been rounded to the nearest multiple of 20 to prevent the systematic bias caused by always rounding numbers upwards. Additionally, totals and sub-totals are rounded separately and so may not equal the sums of their rounded parts.
Asked by: Baroness Davidson of Lundin Links (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what is the total area of any Ministry of Defence (1) land, and (2) buildings, sold off in each of the last five years; and what was the value of each sale.
Answered by Baroness Goldie - Shadow Minister (Defence)
The total area of Ministry of Defence land and the number of sites sold in the last five years is shown in the table below, together with additional receipts such as clawback and overage.
Disposal Receipts | Additional Receipts | Total | |||||
Financial Year | Gross | No of Sites | Built Estate Ha | Training Estate Ha | Area Ha | Gross | Gross |
2020-21 | £104,401,667 | 24 | 120.00 | 16.24 | 136.24 | £1,476,791 | £105,878,458 |
2019-20 | £80,423,946 | 39 | 355.64 | 15.59 | 371.23 | £1,908,810 | £82,332,756 |
2018-19 | £79,354,540 | 46 | 52.69 | 40.45 | 93.14 | £3,020,293 | £82,374,833 |
2017-18 | £173,449,606 | 29 | 547.28 | 0 | 547.28 | £3,207,499 | £176,657,105 |
2016-17 | £83,641,505 | 28 | 521.496 | 5.13 | 526.626 | £7,022,085 | £90,663,590 |
Total | £521,271,264 | 166 | 1597.11 | 77.41 | 1674.516 | £16,635,478 | £537,906,742 |
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A table detailing the value of each site has been placed in the library of the House.