I propose to take Questions Nos. 75 and 77 together.
As of 28th February 2018 (the latest date for which figures are available), the effective strength of the Reserve Defence Force (Army Reserve and Naval Service Reserve) was as follows:
Service
|
Total Effective Personnel
|
Female Personnel
|
Army Reserve
|
1,653
|
232
|
Naval Service Reserve
|
124
|
21
|
Total
|
1,777
|
253
|
I am aware that there is a shortfall between these figures and those of the establishment, which provides for 4,069 personnel. The most recent recruitment campaign for the Army Reserve and Naval Service Reserve began in July 2017 and attracted 1,221 applications, of which 162 were female applicants. A total of 139 new recruits were inducted into the RDF in 2017, of which 10 were female. To date in 2018, 38 personnel have been inducted to the Reserve Defence Force, of which 4 are female. There are plans to launch the next Reserve recruitment campaign in the 2nd quarter of 2018.
I would like to assure the Deputy that I remain committed to the ongoing development of the RDF within the framework set out in the White Paper on Defence.