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Surveillance Towers
Mr. McNamara: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the locations of British Army surveillance towers in Northern Ireland in September 1994 and September 1997; how may of these are on civilian property; what plans exist to withdraw some of these from use in the next six months; and if he will estimate the total annual cost of staffing and maintaining such installations in the past 12 months. [13058]
Dr. Reid: In September 1994 there were surveillance towers at 10 hilltop sites in the South Armagh areas, two towers in Londonderry and three surveillance posts mounted on blocks of flats within Belfast. In September 1997 there were the same number of sites in South Armagh and Belfast, but only one in Londonderry, the other having been closed in 1995. In addition to surveillance towers, the security forces maintain a number of other structures which are used for a variety of observation purposes.
All the sites are on land either leased or requisitioned from civilians, civilian organisations or other Government agencies.
The security situation is kept under constant review and the configuration of the military infrastructure adjusted accordingly. However, there are no plans to withdraw any of the towers from use over the next six months.
The annual costs of staffing and maintaining these installations are not held centrally and could only be produced at disproportionate cost.
Mr. McNamara:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many civilian complaints were made against each regiment of the British Army during the past three years; and how many of these led to disciplinary action.[13062]
Dr. Reid:
Figures for complaints against the Army outside Northern Ireland are not recorded centrally. So far as the Army in Northern Ireland is concerned complaints are categorised as criminal or non-criminal. During the past three years the Royal Ulster Constabulary received the following number of criminal complaints:
| Year | Total |
|---|---|
| 1995 | 28 |
| 1996 | 32 |
| 1997 | (6)65 |
(6) Figures up to 31 October 1997.
A breakdown by regiment is not available. As regards non-criminal complaints the Independent Assessor of Military Complaints Procedures in Northern Ireland recommended in 1994 that these should be informally resolved at local level wherever possible. In the past three
years the numbers of non-criminal complaints dealt with in this way were as follows:
6 Nov 1997 : Column: 321
| Year | Total |
|---|---|
| 1995 | 41 |
| 1996 | 264 |
| 1997 | (7)483 |
(7) Figures up to 30 September 1997.
| 1995 | 1996 | (8)1997 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| The 1st Battalion The Staffordshire Regiment | 2 | -- | -- |
| The 1st Battalion Green Howards | 1 | -- | -- |
| 42 Commando Royal Marines | 1 | 1 | -- |
| The 1st Battalion The Parachute Regiment | 3 | -- | 4 |
| The 1st Battalion The King's Regiment | 1 | -- | -- |
| The Royal Military Police | 2 | -- | -- |
| The 3rd Battalion The Royal Irish Regiment | 3 | 8 | 12 |
| The 4th Battalion The Royal Irish Regiment | -- | -- | 2 |
| The 5th Battalion The Royal Irish Regiment | -- | -- | -- |
| The 7th Battalion The Royal Irish Regiment | 3 | -- | 1 |
| The 8th Battalion The Royal Irish Regiment | 2 | 3 | 7 |
| The 9th Battalion The Royal Irish Regiment | 1 | -- | 2 |
| Unit unknown | 2 | 2 | 3 |
| The 1st Battalion The Royal Irish Regiment | -- | 1 | -- |
| The 1st Battalion The Royal Scots Regiment | -- | 1 | -- |
| The 1st Battalion the Grenadier Guards | -- | 1 | 2 |
| The 1st Battalion The Coldstream Guards | -- | 2 | -- |
| The Duke of Wellington's Regiment | -- | 1 | -- |
| The 2nd Battalion The Parachute Regiment | -- | 2 | 1 |
| The Scots Guards | -- | 1 | -- |
| The 1st Battalion The Royal Welch Fusiliers | -- | -- | 3 |
| The 3rd Battalion The Royal Air Force Regiment | -- | -- | 1 |
| The 3rd Battalion The Royal Horse Artillery | -- | -- | 1 |
| The 9th/12th Battalion The Royal Lancers | -- | -- | 1 |
| The 1st Battalion The Cheshire Regiment | -- | -- | 2 |
| The 1st Battalion The Royal Artillery | -- | 1 | 2 |
| The 1st Battalion The Highlanders | -- | -- | 1 |
| The 1st Battalion The Welsh Guards | -- | -- | 2 |
| 655 Army Air Corps | -- | -- | 1 |
| Lisburn Station Guard Force | -- | -- | 1 |
| 42 Battery 22 Air Defence Regiment | -- | -- | 1 |
| Withdrawn Military not involved | -- | -- | 1 |
| The 1st Battalion The Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders | -- | -- | -- |
| The 1st Battalion The Light Infantry | -- | -- | -- |
| The 1st Battalion The Kings Own Scottish Borderers | -- | -- | -- |
| 24 Engineer Regiment | -- | -- | -- |
| The King's Royal Hussars | -- | -- | -- |
| Total | 21 | 24 | 51 |
| Disciplinary action taken | 2 | 1 | 4 |
(8) To 30 September 1997.
6 Nov 1997 : Column: 322
Military Forces, Northern Ireland
Mr. McNamara: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the numbers of part-time members of the RIR banded by salary levels in increments of £5,000 per annum and indicate the average number of hours per week in each band. [13081]
Dr. Reid: The information requested is not held centrally and could only be provided at disproportionate cost.
Mr. McNamara: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many British Army and RIR barracks are maintained in Northern Ireland; and if he will list those currently being planned, built, replaced, renovated, re-inforced, up-graded or extended or to be closed.[13079]
Dr. Reid: The number of British Army bases in Northern Ireland having approximately 100 soldiers or more is 63.
The Army estate is kept under constant review to ensure it provides best value for money and meets operational requirements. There are no plans to build additional barracks in Northern Ireland. The future of a number of bases is under consideration, but no final decisions have yet been made.
A continual programme of maintenance and development exists to keep the Army estate in good operational order. At present major works projects costing £300,000 or more have been initiated or are underway at the following barracks:
Mr. McNamara:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what were the total staffing levels of the Royal Irish Regiment in September (a) 1995, (b) 1996 and (c) 1997, (i) in total and (ii) broken down (1) into numbers of full-time and part-time (2) by gender (3) by perceived religious/community origin and (4) battalion, and indicating those where service is limited to Northern Ireland. [13080]
Dr. Reid:
The Royal Irish Regiment has one General Service battalion earmarked for world-wide duties, including taking turn on operations in Northern Ireland. The overall strength of the General Service Battalion as at 1 September was as follows: 572 in 1995, 576 in 1996 and 469 in 1997. There are no infantry cap-badged service women in these numbers. A breakdown by gender of other
6 Nov 1997 : Column: 323
cap badges is not readily available nor is detail on the perceived religious/community origin of serving members of the General Service Battalion.
In addition to the General Service Battalion, there are six Home Service Battalions comprising full time (FT) and part time (PT) soldiers, who serve only in Northern Ireland, except for some training.
6 Nov 1997 : Column: 324
The total strength of the Home Service Battalions as at 30 September was 5,190 in 1995, 4,855 in 1996 and 4,757 in 1997. The information requested on (1) the breakdown into full-time and part-time, (2) gender, (3) perceived religious/community origin and (4) battalion is not readily available for the month of September; however the figures for 31 December 1995 and 1996 are set out in the table. Figures relating to 1997 will not be available until early next year.
6 Nov 1997 : Column: 323
Alexander Barracks
Abercorn Barracks
Shackleton Barracks
Kinnegar Barracks
Palace Barracks
Thiepval Barracks
Massereene Barracks
Lisanelly Barracks
Girdwood Barracks.
Key:
HS(FT)--Home Service (Full Time).
HS(PT)--Home Service (Part Time).
PROT--Protestant.
RC--Roman Catholic.
6 Nov 1997 : Column: 323
6 Nov 1997 : Column: 323
Mr. McNamara:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what was the overall strength in September (a) 1995, (b) 1996 and (c) 1997 of British military forces in Northern Ireland broken down into numbers attached to the RAF, Royal Navy, RIR, RIR part-time and others. [13078]
Dr. Reid:
The information requested is set out in the table:
Figures as at 30 September.
(9) Includes the Province Reserve Battalion and the Rural Reinforcement Battalion which are fully committed to Northern Ireland although only one company of each is currently deployed in the Province.
6 Nov 1997 : Column: 324
Mr. McNamara:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the British Army regiments currently deployed in Northern Ireland, indicating the numbers attached to each and the estimated duration of their tour of duty; and if he will make a statement on planned deployment during the next 12 months. [13083]
6 Nov 1997 : Column: 325
Dr. Reid:
The British Army Infantry Battalions currently committed to Northern Ireland are listed in the table, along with their strength and planned tour length:
| Strength | Length of tour | |
|---|---|---|
| The 1st Battalion The Cheshire Regiment | 604 | 2 years--until August 1998 |
| The 1st Battalion The Grenadier Guards | 527 | 2 years--until March 1998 |
| The 2nd Battalion The Light Infantry | 617 | 2 years--until August 1999 |
| The 1st Battalion The Royal Regiment of Fusiliers | 598 | 2 years--until April 1999 |
| The 1st Battalion The Queen's Lancashire Regiment | 587 | 2 years--until August 1999 |
| The 1st Battalion The Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders (Princess Louise's)(10) | 609 | 2 years--until March 1999 |
| The 1st Battalion The King's Own Scottish Borderers | 580 | 6 months--until March 1998 |
| The 1st Battalion The Royal Highland Fusiliers (Princess Margaret's Own Glasgow and Ayrshire Regiment) | 568 | 6 months--until November 1997 |
| The 1st Battalion The Queen's Royal Hussars (The Queen's Own and Royal Irish) | 417 | 6 months--until April 1998 |
| The 1st Battalion The Parachute Regiment | 517 | 6 months--until December 1997 |
| The 1st Battalion The Royal Scots (The Royal Regiment)(10) | 462 | 6 months--until December 1997 |
| The 3rd Battalion The Parachute Regiment | 440 | 6 months--until January 1998 |
Figures as at 30 September.
(10) The 1st Battalion The Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders and the 1st Battalion The Royal Scots, respectively the Province Reserve Battalion and the Rural Reinforcement Battalion, are fully committed to Northern Ireland, although currently only one company of each is deployed in the Province.
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