Chaplains

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many military chaplains there were in each of the last five years, broken down by (a) armed service, (b) rank and (c) faith. (113489)

The number of trained military chaplains in the UK Regular Forces in each of the last five years broken down by rank and service is shown in the following table. In addition to the Christian chaplains shown, chaplains from the four main non-Christian faiths were appointed in October 2005, one each from the Hindu, Buddhist, Muslim and Sikh faiths. These chaplains are MOD civil servants rather than service personnel. There is also an honorary officiating chaplain to minister to those of the Jewish faith.

*As at 1 April each year*
Rank	2001	2002	2003	2004	2005	2006	1 November 2006¹
All services	300	295	290	295	290	285	²285
OF-5 and above	20	20	20	25	20	20	²20
OF-4	50	55	55	55	60	60	²60
OF-3	130	125	125	125	120	125	²135
OF-2	100	100	90	90	90	75	²70
OF-1	³—	³—	³—	³—	³—	⁴—	^2,4—

Naval service⁵	75	70	65	70	70	65	²65
OF-5 and above	5	5	10	10	10	10	²5
OF-4	15	15	15	10	15	15	²15
OF-3	25	25	25	25	25	25	²25
OF-2	25	25	20	20	20	20	²15

Army	150	150	150	150	145	145	145
OF-5 and above	10	10	10	10	10	10	10
OF-4	20	20	20	20	15	20	20
OF-3	55	55	65	70	70	75	75
OF-2	65	65	55	50	50	45	45
OF-1	³—	³—	³—	³—	³—	⁴—	⁴—

RAF	75	75	70	75	75	75	²70
OF-5 and above	⁴—	⁴—	⁴—	⁴—	⁴—	⁴—	⁴—
OF-4	15	20	25	25	30	30	²25
OF-3	50	45	35	30	20	30	²35
OF-2	5	10	10	20	20	10	²10

The number of trained military chaplains in each of the last five years broken down by denomination and service is shown in the following table.

*As at 1 April each year*
Denomination	2001⁶	2002⁶	2003⁶	2004⁶	2005⁶	2006⁷	1 November 2006^1,7
Naval service⁵	75	70	65	70	70	65	65²
Baptist	⁸—	⁸—	⁸—	⁸—	⁸—	⁴—	^2,4—
Church of England	⁸—	⁸—	⁸—	⁸—	⁸—	35	²35
Church of Scotland	⁸—	⁸—	⁸—	⁸—	⁸—	10	²10
Free Church of Scotland	⁸—	⁸—	⁸—	⁸—	⁸—	⁴—	^2,4—
Methodist	⁸—	⁸—	⁸—	⁸—	⁸—	⁴—	^2,4—
Roman Catholic	⁸—	⁸—	⁸—	⁸—	⁸—	10	²10

Army	150	150	150	150	145	145	145
Baptist	5	5	5	5	5	5	5
Calvinistic Church of Wales	³—	³—	³—	³—	³—	³—	⁴—
Church of England	80	75	75	75	75	70	70
Church of Ireland	10	10	5	5	5	10	10
Church of Scotland	15	15	15	15	15	15	15
Church of Wales	⁴—	5	⁴—	⁴—	⁴—	⁴—	⁴—
Episcopalian - Scottish	⁴—	⁴—	⁴—	⁴—	⁴—	⁴—	⁴—
Free Church of Scotland	³—	³—	³—	³—	³—	⁴—	⁴—
Methodist	10	10	10	10	10	10	10
Presbyterian - Ireland	⁴—	⁴—	⁴—	⁴—	⁴—	⁴—	⁴—
Presbyterian - Scotland	⁴—	⁴—	³—	³—	³—	³—	³—
Roman Catholic	20	25	25	25	25	25	20
Unified Reformed Church	⁴—	⁴—	⁴—	⁴—	⁴—	⁴—	⁴—

RAF	75	75	70	75	75	75	²70
Baptist	⁴—	⁴—	⁴—	⁴—	⁴—	⁴—	⁸—
Church of England	50	50	45	45	45	45	⁸—
Church of Ireland	⁴—	⁴—	⁴—	⁴—	⁴—	⁴—	⁸—
Church of Scotland	5	5	5	5	5	5	⁸—
Methodist	5	5	5	5	5	5	⁸—
Presbyterian	⁴—	⁴—	⁴—	⁴—	⁴—	⁴—	⁸—
Roman Catholic	10	10	10	10	10	10	⁸—
¹ Due to the introduction of a new personnel administration system, the breakdown of naval service chaplains by rank and denomination is provisional at November 2006 and a breakdown of RAF chaplains by denomination is not available at November 2006. The total number of naval service and RAF chaplains at November 2006 is provisional pending review. ² Denotes provisional. ³ Denotes zero. ⁴Denotes fewer than five. All other figures have been rounded to the nearest five. ⁵ Naval Service includes Royal Navy and Royal Marines. ⁶ A breakdown of naval service chaplains by denomination is not available prior to April 2006 as this information is not held centrally. ⁷ The naval service totals for April 2006 and November 2006 include five Christian chaplains of unknown denomination. The Army totals for April 2006 and November 2006 include fewer than five Christian chaplains of unknown denomination. The RAF total for April 2006 includes fewer than five Christian chaplains of unknown denomination. ⁸ Denotes not available.

UK regular forces excludes full-time reserve service personnel, Ghurkhas, the Home Service battalions of the Royal Irish Regiment and mobilised reservists.

Volume 455: debated on Thursday 11 January 2007