Future Reserves 2020: Update Debate

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Department: Ministry of Defence
Tuesday 8th November 2016

(8 years ago)

Written Statements
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Michael Fallon Portrait The Secretary of State for Defence (Sir Michael Fallon)
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On 29 June 2016 I informed Parliament (HCWS49) that, following the strategic and defence security review 2015, which set out the need to strengthen the armed forces’ contribution to UK resilience, the Army would in future plan to use Regular and Reserve phase 1 trained personnel in response to crises within the UK. This will increase the productivity, utility and size of force available in the event of a national emergency. To reflect this, the term “Trained Strength” will now include all personnel trained to undertake the core functions of the Army.

The public consultation on the presentation of revised Trained Strength figures for the Army Reserve has now been completed and we will commence publication of the new statistics from 1 October. I have agreed the following revised growth profile for the for the Army Reserve with the Chief of the General Staff; unchanged growth targets for the Maritime Reserve and Royal Auxiliary Air Force are included for completeness:

Trained Strength

31 Mar 17

31 Mar 18

31 Mar 19

Maritime Reserve

2,320

2,790

3,100

Army Reserve

26,700

28,600

30,100

Royal Auxiliary Air Force

1,860

1,860

1,860

Total

30,880

33,250

35,060



These targets now replace all those announced on 19 December 2013 (Official Report, column 124WS).

[HCWS248]