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Armed Forces

Volume 407: debated on Wednesday 25 June 2003

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To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what estimate he has made of the effect on overstretch of a difference between the target number of armed forces personnel and the actual number of personnel. [120815]

As at 1 May 2003 the shortfall against the current trained requirement of the armed forces stood at 6,450. This is an improvement on the same time last year with an increase in the overall trained strength and a decrease in the deficit. All three Services are working hard to address the shortfalls so that the targets set out in the current Public Service Agreements can be met.Details of shortfalls by individual Service as at 1 May 2003 are shown as follows.

Trained requirement

Trained strength

Shortfall

Naval Service38,50037,460-1,040
Army106,980102,430-4,540
RAF49,64048,770-870