asked the Secretary of State for Defence what are the numbers and categories of Army Reservists; how these figures compare for the past three years; and if he is satisfied with levels of recruitment.

The Army's reserves comprise the Regular Reserves, consisting of the Regular Army Reserve of Officers, the Regular Reserve, the Long Term Reserve and Army Pensioners, and the volunteer reserves, consisting of the Territorial Army and the Ulster Defence Regiment. The strength of the Territorial Army at 31 December 1979 and the three previous years was:

31 December 1976	60,100
31 December 1977	60,700
31 December 1978	58,900
31 December 1979	61,900

Since the increased bounties and other charges arising out of the Shapland report were announced in August 1979 TA strengths have risen by about 2,500, reflecting improved levels of recruitment and retention. I am confident that satisfactory progress will continue to be made.The strength of the Ulster Defence Regiment—excluding Regular Army attachments—over the last four years has been:

31 December 1976	7,600
31 December 1977	7,800
31 December 1978	7,700
31 December 1979	7,400

Recruitment to the permanent cadre continues to be very satisfactory, but part-time recruitment, although it remains buoyant, has been insufficient to replace outflow.