Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what the regular army's shortfall against (a) trained strength requirement and (b) its recruitment intake target has been in each of the last 10 years.

Defence Statistics publish information on a regular basis showing the Army’s Regular liability and trained strength.

The most recent information is contained in ‘UK Armed Forces Monthly Service Personnel Statistics December 2015’ and associated tables which is available at the following link:

https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/uk-armed-forces-monthly-service-personnel-statistics-index

Figures for the last ten years for the Regular Army, may be found in Quarterly Performance Reports, including those at the following links:

Quarterly Personnel Report – 1 April 2015 (for 2010/11 to 2014/15)

https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/uk-armed-forces-quarterly-personnel-report-2015#

Quarterly Personnel Report – 1 April 2012 (for 2007/08 to 2009/10)

http://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/20140116142443/http://www.dasa.mod.uk/index.php/publications/personnel/military/quarterly-personnel-report/2012-04-01

Quarterly Personnel Report – 1 April 2009 (for 2005 to 2007)

http://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/20140116142443/http://www.dasa.mod.uk/index.php/publications/personnel/military/quarterly-personnel-report/2009-04-01

Official statistics for Regular recruitment targets are not produced.