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23 Feb 2010 : Column 408W—continued


23 Feb 2010 : Column 409W

Due to ongoing validation of the Joint Personnel Administration System (JPA) all RAF strengths in 2008-09 are provisional and subject to review. All figures in the table below the rank of Group Captain have been rounded to the nearest 10.

As at 1 April each year
Rank 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003

Air Chief Marshal

5

4

4

3

2

3

4

Air Marshal

8

7

7

8

8

7

7

Air Vice-Marshal

34

32

31

32

31

31

29

Air Commodore

95

92

92

98

96

90

88

Group Captain

330

340

330

330

340

340

340

Wing Commander

1,130

1,160

1,160

1,220

1,270

1,280

1,280

Squadron Leader

2,990

3,020

3,000

2,960

3,030

3,030

3,080

Flight Lieutenant

5,280

5,060

4,880

4,820

4,580

4,520

4,510

Flying Officer/Pilot Officer/Officer Designate

1,170

1,270

1,400

1,510

1,610

1,610

1,620

Warrant Officer

1,260

1,210

1,160

1,150

1,160

1,170

1,190

Flight Sergeant/Chief Technician

4,270

4,310

4,160

4,050

4,110

3,930

3,860

Sergeant

8,040

8,120

8,120

7,930

7,860

7,790

7,620

Corporal

11,860

11,340

10,940

10,340

10,210

10,190

10,110

Junior Technician/Leading Aircraftsman/Senior Aircraftsman

18,660

17,730

17,510

17,730

16,600

16,030

15,950

Aircraftsman

1,730

2,170

2,420

2,530

2,810

2,980

3,550


As at 1 April each year
Rank 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009

Air Chief Marshal

4

4

2

4

(1)3

(1)3

Air Marshal

4

8

8

6

(1)6

(1)9

Air Vice-Marshal

34

27

27

30

(1)25

(1)24

Air Commodore

90

92

92

95

(1)94

(1)90

Group Captain

360

340

320

310

(1)310

(1)330

Wing Commander

1,290

1,320

1,270

1,240

(1)1,220

(1)1,200

Squadron Leader

3,030

2,870

2,780

2,660

(1)2,630

(1)2,570

Flight Lieutenant

4,510

4,650

4,630

4,420

(1)4,160

(1)4,050

Flying Officer/Pilot Officer/Officer Designate

1,650

1,310

1,180

1,120

(1)1,230

(1)1,500

Warrant Officer

1,200

1,200

1,210

1,180

(1)1,130

(1)1,190

Flight Sergeant/Chief Technician

3,920

3,900

3,670

3,480

(1)3,300

(1)3,190

Sergeant

7,660

7,660

7,430

6,910

(1)6,560

(1)6,270

Corporal

10,070

10,070

9,790

9,120

(1)8,760

(1)8,460

Junior Technician/Leading Aircraftsman/Senior Aircraftsman

16,100

16,430

15,350

13,860

(1)12,350

(1)11,890

Aircraftsman

3,480

2,000

960

930

(1)1,630

(1)2,800

(1 )Provisional

RAF personnel numbers have reduced over the period since 1997 in line with strategic reviews. The Strategic Defence Review (published 1998) sought to shift UK defence forces away from a largely cold war defence posture based on maintaining heavily equipped forces in Western Europe towards lighter, expeditionary forces capable of deploying across the world. It also marked a shift towards 'joint' defence forces and a greater use of advanced technology. Subsequent strategic reviews have continued these trends.

Moreover, as the 2004 Defence White Paper "Delivering Security in a Changing World" made clear,

The bulk of the RAF's manpower reductions has been at lower level ranks (Senior Aircraftsman and Corporal). These were mainly achieved through efficiency improvements including multi-skilling of engineering personnel and contractorisation of posts in service trades where these ranks are prevalent.

Armed Forces: Injuries

Nick Harvey: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) how many triple amputees are in the armed forces; [316994]

(2) how many amputees in the armed forces have been sent to the US for medical treatment in the last three years; [316995]

(3) how much his Department spent on sending armed forces amputees to the US for medical treatment in each of the last three years. [316996]

Mr. Kevan Jones: The Ministry of Defence has committed to publishing on a quarterly basis the numbers of service personnel who have suffered limb amputations as a result of injuries sustained while on operational deployment, and Defence Analytical Services and Advice (DASA) published figures up to the end of 2009 on 12 February 2010, available on its website at:


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