Asked by: Baroness Davidson of Lundin Links (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask His Majesty's Government what steps, including external and internal publicity, advertising, identification, coaching and support, they have taken to recruit women to the close combat regiments, units and roles such as the infantry, Royal Armoured Corps, Household Cavalry and special forces units since these roles were first opened to women in 2018.
Answered by Lord Coaker - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)
Since close combat roles were opened to women in 2018, the Army has used inclusive advertising, targeted engagement and tailored support to encourage women to consider careers across the Army, including roles previously closed to them.
This activity is intended to support women through the main stages of the recruiting journey. Inclusive campaigns such as ‘You Belong Here’ and female-focused social media activity help raise awareness and show that Army careers, including close combat roles, are open to women. Women in Combat events, Women in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics events, work experience and targeted outreach provide opportunities to learn more about roles and ask questions before applying. Fitness support, mentoring, female ambassadors, ‘Ask a Soldier’ activity, young officer nurture events and digital guidance through the Army Readiness App are intended to build confidence, provide practical advice and support candidates through the recruitment process. Recruiter training supports more confident and informed engagement with under-represented groups.
These measures support female recruitment across the Army rather than being targeted at individual regiments, units or roles. Activities such as ‘Women in Combat’ engagement, serving female ambassadors, tailored support events and inclusive marketing are relevant to women considering close combat roles as they increase awareness, provide access to role models and help candidates understand and prepare for the recruitment process.
Asked by: Baroness Davidson of Lundin Links (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask His Majesty's Government how many people were successfully rescued by HM Coastguard during callout operations in each of the last 10 years.
Answered by Lord Hendy of Richmond Hill - Minister of State (Department for Transport)
The number of people who have died in UK coastal waters in each of the last ten calendar years:
Calendar year | Confirmed fatalities |
2017 | 477 |
2018 | 491 |
2019 | 493 |
2020 | 473 |
2021 | 487 |
2022 | 518 |
2023 | 571 |
2024 | 529 |
2025 | 539 |
2026 (January to August only) | 379 |
HM Coastguard currently has approximately 662 employees.
The total number of search and rescue incidents for the last ten calendar years is:
Calendar year | Total SAR incidents |
2017 | 23,107 |
2018 | 24,432 |
2019 | 29,088 |
2020 | 30,543 |
2021 | 32,613 |
2022 | 33,468 |
2023 | 31,162 |
2024 | 31,141 |
2025 | 32,155 |
2026 (January to August only) | 25,237 |
The number of people estimated to have been successfully rescued by HM Coastguard in each year for which HM Coastguard holds consistent records is:
Year | Total |
2019 | 30,383 |
2020 | 35,945 |
2021 | 61,612 |
2022 | 79,546 |
2023 | 59,446 |
2024 | 62,364 |
2025 | 64,618 |
2026 (January to August only) | 28,865 |
HM Coastguard does not hold data on the average cost of each callout to which HM Coastguard responds.
Asked by: Baroness Davidson of Lundin Links (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask His Majesty's Government what estimate they have made of the average cost of each callout to which HM Coastguard responds.
Answered by Lord Hendy of Richmond Hill - Minister of State (Department for Transport)
The number of people who have died in UK coastal waters in each of the last ten calendar years:
Calendar year | Confirmed fatalities |
2017 | 477 |
2018 | 491 |
2019 | 493 |
2020 | 473 |
2021 | 487 |
2022 | 518 |
2023 | 571 |
2024 | 529 |
2025 | 539 |
2026 (January to August only) | 379 |
HM Coastguard currently has approximately 662 employees.
The total number of search and rescue incidents for the last ten calendar years is:
Calendar year | Total SAR incidents |
2017 | 23,107 |
2018 | 24,432 |
2019 | 29,088 |
2020 | 30,543 |
2021 | 32,613 |
2022 | 33,468 |
2023 | 31,162 |
2024 | 31,141 |
2025 | 32,155 |
2026 (January to August only) | 25,237 |
The number of people estimated to have been successfully rescued by HM Coastguard in each year for which HM Coastguard holds consistent records is:
Year | Total |
2019 | 30,383 |
2020 | 35,945 |
2021 | 61,612 |
2022 | 79,546 |
2023 | 59,446 |
2024 | 62,364 |
2025 | 64,618 |
2026 (January to August only) | 28,865 |
HM Coastguard does not hold data on the average cost of each callout to which HM Coastguard responds.
Asked by: Baroness Davidson of Lundin Links (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask His Majesty's Government how many callouts were received by HM Coastguard in each of the last 10 years.
Answered by Lord Hendy of Richmond Hill - Minister of State (Department for Transport)
The number of people who have died in UK coastal waters in each of the last ten calendar years:
Calendar year | Confirmed fatalities |
2017 | 477 |
2018 | 491 |
2019 | 493 |
2020 | 473 |
2021 | 487 |
2022 | 518 |
2023 | 571 |
2024 | 529 |
2025 | 539 |
2026 (January to August only) | 379 |
HM Coastguard currently has approximately 662 employees.
The total number of search and rescue incidents for the last ten calendar years is:
Calendar year | Total SAR incidents |
2017 | 23,107 |
2018 | 24,432 |
2019 | 29,088 |
2020 | 30,543 |
2021 | 32,613 |
2022 | 33,468 |
2023 | 31,162 |
2024 | 31,141 |
2025 | 32,155 |
2026 (January to August only) | 25,237 |
The number of people estimated to have been successfully rescued by HM Coastguard in each year for which HM Coastguard holds consistent records is:
Year | Total |
2019 | 30,383 |
2020 | 35,945 |
2021 | 61,612 |
2022 | 79,546 |
2023 | 59,446 |
2024 | 62,364 |
2025 | 64,618 |
2026 (January to August only) | 28,865 |
HM Coastguard does not hold data on the average cost of each callout to which HM Coastguard responds.
Asked by: Baroness Davidson of Lundin Links (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask His Majesty's Government how many people are employed by HM Coastguard.
Answered by Lord Hendy of Richmond Hill - Minister of State (Department for Transport)
The number of people who have died in UK coastal waters in each of the last ten calendar years:
Calendar year | Confirmed fatalities |
2017 | 477 |
2018 | 491 |
2019 | 493 |
2020 | 473 |
2021 | 487 |
2022 | 518 |
2023 | 571 |
2024 | 529 |
2025 | 539 |
2026 (January to August only) | 379 |
HM Coastguard currently has approximately 662 employees.
The total number of search and rescue incidents for the last ten calendar years is:
Calendar year | Total SAR incidents |
2017 | 23,107 |
2018 | 24,432 |
2019 | 29,088 |
2020 | 30,543 |
2021 | 32,613 |
2022 | 33,468 |
2023 | 31,162 |
2024 | 31,141 |
2025 | 32,155 |
2026 (January to August only) | 25,237 |
The number of people estimated to have been successfully rescued by HM Coastguard in each year for which HM Coastguard holds consistent records is:
Year | Total |
2019 | 30,383 |
2020 | 35,945 |
2021 | 61,612 |
2022 | 79,546 |
2023 | 59,446 |
2024 | 62,364 |
2025 | 64,618 |
2026 (January to August only) | 28,865 |
HM Coastguard does not hold data on the average cost of each callout to which HM Coastguard responds.
Asked by: Baroness Davidson of Lundin Links (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask His Majesty's Government how many people have died in UK coastal waters in each of the last 10 years.
Answered by Lord Hendy of Richmond Hill - Minister of State (Department for Transport)
The number of people who have died in UK coastal waters in each of the last ten calendar years:
Calendar year | Confirmed fatalities |
2017 | 477 |
2018 | 491 |
2019 | 493 |
2020 | 473 |
2021 | 487 |
2022 | 518 |
2023 | 571 |
2024 | 529 |
2025 | 539 |
2026 (January to August only) | 379 |
HM Coastguard currently has approximately 662 employees.
The total number of search and rescue incidents for the last ten calendar years is:
Calendar year | Total SAR incidents |
2017 | 23,107 |
2018 | 24,432 |
2019 | 29,088 |
2020 | 30,543 |
2021 | 32,613 |
2022 | 33,468 |
2023 | 31,162 |
2024 | 31,141 |
2025 | 32,155 |
2026 (January to August only) | 25,237 |
The number of people estimated to have been successfully rescued by HM Coastguard in each year for which HM Coastguard holds consistent records is:
Year | Total |
2019 | 30,383 |
2020 | 35,945 |
2021 | 61,612 |
2022 | 79,546 |
2023 | 59,446 |
2024 | 62,364 |
2025 | 64,618 |
2026 (January to August only) | 28,865 |
HM Coastguard does not hold data on the average cost of each callout to which HM Coastguard responds.
Asked by: Baroness Davidson of Lundin Links (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the future impact of long Covid on economic productivity and workforce participation.
Answered by Baroness Sherlock - Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)
Across the NHS in England there are services supporting people with post-COVID syndrome (long COVID). These services offer physical, cognitive and psychological assessment, and, where appropriate, refer patients onto existing services for treatment and rehabilitation.
To support clinical leadership in this area, NHSE has worked in partnership with the British Society of Physical and Rehabilitation Medicine to develop a new Clinical Post-COVID Society to facilitate the ongoing sharing of best practice to support people affected by long COVID. More information about the Society can be found at the following link: https://www.clinicalpcs.org.uk.
The UK Government has also invested over £57 million into long COVID research. The projects aim to improve our understanding of the diagnosis and underlying mechanisms of the disease and the effectiveness of both pharmacological and non-pharmacological therapies and interventions, and to evaluate clinical care.
Recent government-funded research from the National Institute for Health and Care Research estimated the economic impact on the UK at the time of the study (March 2023) as £5.7 billion from those with long COVID unable to work as before. More than half of respondents worked fewer hours or stopped working and on average had a 25% drop in earnings or nearly £11,000 each. The Department has made no assessment of the future impact of long Covid on economic productivity and workforce participation.
Asked by: Baroness Davidson of Lundin Links (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the cost to the economy per year of people unable to work due to long Covid.
Answered by Baroness Sherlock - Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)
The Department does not have an estimate of the cost to the economy per year of people unable to work due to long Covid. Recent government-funded research from the National Institute for Health and Care Research estimated the economic impact on the UK at the time of the study (March 2023) as £5.7 billion from those with long COVID unable to work as before, based on the total duration of long COVID symptoms.
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.