asked the Secretary of State for Defence what is the rôle of the Army youth teams; how many teams at present exist; how many soldiers are in the teams in total; and to what extent these numbers are to be reduced as a result of the Government's defence cuts.

Army youth teams give practical assistance to youth organisations to provide young people with the opportunity to take part in character-building activities, both indoor and outdoor, which might otherwise be beyond the scope of individual clubs, to inform them about life and conditions in the Army, and by so doing, to encourage those who are suitable to join the Army. There are 79 Army youth teams, totalling 395 personnel. The rôle and deployment of these teams are the subject of current study.