To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many Royal Marine commandos there are; and what the planned target number for the period 2006-07 was. (129730)

On 1 February 2007 there were 5,540 trained Royal Marines Commandos.

The requirement for Royal Marines Commandos in April 2006 was 5,970 and 6,030 in April 2007.

Note:

These figures include Regular personnel and exclude full-time reserve personnel and activated reservists.