To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the rates of separated service were for the RAF, broken down by unit, for each of the last two years; and if he will make a statement. [128411]

Information on Separated Service is not collated by individual unit and could be provided in that format only at disproportionate cost. However, the

	Personnel on Separated Service spending
Incidences of Separated Service for operations and training1	Average Trained Strength	Less than 28 days	28–89 days	90–139 days	140–279 days	280+ days	Total personnel spending time on Separated Service	Percentage of average trained strength who were on Separated Service	Total days spent on Separated Service
FY 200 1–02	49,266	13,455	11,322	6,514	2,432	87	33,810	69	1,999,168
FY 2002–03	48,690	12,668	13,798	6,830	2,858	48	36,202	74	2,207,041
FY 2003–042	48,516	13,427	8,744	912	0	0	23,083	48	695,963
1 August 2002-
31 July 20033	48,606	12,638	12,812	7,026	2,951	61	35,488	73	2,204,507
1 An incidence of Separated Service is recorded when an individual is absent from their parent unit on duty for three nights or more and a permanent order has not been issued. The table shows Separated Service for operational and training commitments excluding resettlement and expedition training.
2 Information up to 31 July 2003 only.
3 Latest 12-month period available ending 31 July 2003. Information from April 2000 excludes weekends where personnel are able to return home while on detached duty.

The rates of Separated Service have shown an increase over the last two years due to the increased operational tempo as a result of the RAF providing following table shows the rates of Separated Service recorded by the RAF for the last two years.support to the civil authorities during the fire-fighters strike, Exercise Saif Sareea and deployments to Afghanistan and the Gulf.