House of Commons Hansard Written Answers for 18 Jul 2005 (pt 11)

18 Jul 2005 : Column 1320W—continued

Maritime Forces

Dr. Julian Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence for what reasons the decision to reduce resource allocations to maritime forces has not previously been reported to Parliament. [9694]

Mr. Ingram [holding answer 7 July 2005]: The Royal Navy is expected to be able to fulfil its operational commitments during the current period of focussing logistic support on those ships undertaking high priority tasks or being held at high readiness for operations. Determining the most efficient and effective use of available resources is a routine element of departmental planning, and specific decisions are not normally the subject of special notification to the House.

Mothballed Defence Bases

Mr. Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Defenceif he will list his Department's bases which are mothballed. [12466]

Mr. Touhig: It is not the policy of the Ministry of Defence to 'mothball' sites against undefined future defence uses. The only exception would be in the case ofArmy Barracks, where a site might be vacant for a few months as a result of unit rotations to overseas locations. There are currently no sites in this category.

All possible alternate defence requirements will be considered for a site before it is declared surplus. Once declared surplus a site will be disposed of as quickly as possible to ensure it is bought back into productive use at the earliest opportunity.

Where disposal is anticipated to take some time, buildings may be wind and weatherproofed to minimise deterioration. It is also our policy, where possible, to encourage temporary commercial use of vacant sites pending disposal.

Northern Ireland

Mr. Peter Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many Army personnel were stationed in Northern Ireland in each of the last 10 years. [11653]

18 Jul 2005 : Column 1321W

Mr. Ingram: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 16 November 2001, Official Report, columns 955–56W, to the hon. Member for New Forest, West (Mr. Swayne). The number of armed forces personnel (Army, Navy and Air Force) stationed in Northern Ireland since then is set out in the following table:

As at 31 October Number of troops

2002 13,810

2003 12,534

2004 11,047

2005⁽⁷⁾ 10,154

⁽⁷⁾The figure for 2005 is taken as at 30 June.

As at 31 October	Number of troops
2002	13,810
2003	12,534
2004	11,047
2005⁽⁷⁾	10,154

The General Officer Commanding Northern Ireland (GOC NI) also has under his command troops that are rear based in Great Britain that can be called forward to

18 Jul 2005 : Column 1322W

the Province as and when required. In addition, other troops can be made available to the GOC NI from LandCommand if required, for example during the marching season.

Regimental Strength

Mr. Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the strength is of each regiment in the Army; and what percentage this is of the full establishment in each case. [13149]

Mr. Touhig: The following table shows the strengths and establishments of the full-time trained Army by arm/service and strengths of the individual infantry regiments.

Establishments of each infantry and armoured corps regiment have not been provided because they are not defined individually.
Full-time trained strength of the Army (including full-time reserve service (FTRS)) as at 1 June 2005 compared to the liability

Arm/service Establishment Strength Percentage of establishment

Staff 830 830 100

The Household Cavalry/Royal Armoured Corps 5,300 5,670 107

Royal Regiment of Artillery 7,580 7,510 99

Corps of Royal Engineers 10,020 8,870 88

Royal Corps of Signals 8,580 8,780 102

The Infantry 24,420 25,090 103

Of which

Grenadier Guards ⁽⁸⁾— 770 ⁽⁸⁾—

Coldstream Guards ⁽⁸⁾— 780 ⁽⁸⁾—

Scots Guards ⁽⁸⁾— 720 ⁽⁸⁾—

Irish Guards ⁽⁸⁾— 630 ⁽⁸⁾—

Welsh Guards ⁽⁸⁾— 600 ⁽⁸⁾—

Royal Scots ⁽⁸⁾— 580 ⁽⁸⁾—

Royal Highland Fusiliers ⁽⁸⁾— 600 ⁽⁸⁾—

Kings Own Scottish Borderers ⁽⁸⁾— 580 ⁽⁸⁾—

Black Watch ⁽⁸⁾— 660 ⁽⁸⁾—

Highlanders ⁽⁸⁾— 610 ⁽⁸⁾—

Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders ⁽⁸⁾— 590 ⁽⁸⁾—

Princess of Wales's Royal Regiment ⁽⁸⁾— 1,330 ⁽⁸⁾—

Royal Regiment of Fusiliers ⁽⁸⁾— 1,300 ⁽⁸⁾—

Royal Anglian Regiment ⁽⁸⁾— 1,320 ⁽⁸⁾—

Kings Own Royal Border Regiment ⁽⁸⁾— 620 ⁽⁸⁾—

King's Regiment ⁽⁸⁾— 600 ⁽⁸⁾—

1 Prince of Wales' Own Regiment ⁽⁸⁾— 660 ⁽⁸⁾—

Green Howards ⁽⁸⁾— 620 ⁽⁸⁾—

Queen's Lancashire Regiment ⁽⁸⁾— 660 ⁽⁸⁾—

Duke of Wallington's Regiment ⁽⁸⁾— 670 ⁽⁸⁾—

Devonshire and Dorset Regiment ⁽⁸⁾— 620 ⁽⁸⁾—

Cheshire Regiment ⁽⁸⁾— 580 ⁽⁸⁾—

Royal Welch Fusiliers ⁽⁸⁾— 660 ⁽⁸⁾—

Royal Regiment of Wales ⁽⁸⁾— 590 ⁽⁸⁾—

Royal Gloucestershire, Berkshire and Wiltshire Regiment ⁽⁸⁾— 640 ⁽⁸⁾—

Worcestershire and Sherwood Foresters Regiment ⁽⁸⁾— 620 ⁽⁸⁾—

Staffordshire Regiment ⁽⁸⁾— 610 ⁽⁸⁾—

The Light Infantry Regiment ⁽⁸⁾— 1,320 ⁽⁸⁾—

Royal Green Jackets ⁽⁸⁾— 1,290 ⁽⁸⁾—

The Parachute Regiment ⁽⁸⁾— 2,080 ⁽⁸⁾—

The Royal Irish Regiment (General Service) ⁽⁸⁾— 660 ⁽⁸⁾—

Others ⁽⁸⁾— 530 ⁽⁸⁾—

Army Air Corps 2,160 1,930 89

Royal Army Chaplains Department 160 140 87

The Royal Logistics Corps 16,390 15,570 96

Royal Army Medical Corps 3,280 2,780 86

Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers 9,580 9,760 102

Adjutant General's Corps (Provost Branch) 2,020 2,020 100

Adjutant General's Corps (Staff and Personnel Support Branch) 4,400 4,570 104

Adjutant General's Corps (Educational and Training Services Branch) 330 340 103

Adjutant General's Corps (Army Legal Service) 120 90 72

Royal Army Veterinary Corps 200 190 94

Small Arms School Corps 160 150 97

Royal Army Dental Corps 440 370 84

Intelligence Corps 1,840 1,430 78

Army Physical Training Corps 440 430 98

General Service Corps ⁽⁸⁾— ⁽⁸⁾— ⁽⁸⁾—

Queen Alexandra's Royal Army Nursing Corps 1,100 820 74

Corps of Army Music 920 980 106

Long Service List 480 610 127

Unallocated ⁽⁸⁾— 10 ⁽⁸⁾—

Total trained regular Army and FTRS 100,770 98,940 98

Ghurkhas 3,400 3,320 98

Full-time trained Army 104,170 102,260 98

⁽⁸⁾Denotes zero or rounded to zero.
Notes:
FTRS figures include full, limited and home commitment.
Figures exclude home service battalions of the Royal Irish Regiment, Mobilised Reserves, Territorial Army and other reserves.
Figures are rounded to the nearest 10.

18 Jul 2005 : Column 1323W

Arm/service	Establishment	Strength	Percentage of establishment
Staff	830	830	100
The Household Cavalry/Royal Armoured Corps	5,300	5,670	107
Royal Regiment of Artillery	7,580	7,510	99
Corps of Royal Engineers	10,020	8,870	88
Royal Corps of Signals	8,580	8,780	102
The Infantry	24,420	25,090	103
Of which
Grenadier Guards	⁽⁸⁾—	770	⁽⁸⁾—
Coldstream Guards	⁽⁸⁾—	780	⁽⁸⁾—
Scots Guards	⁽⁸⁾—	720	⁽⁸⁾—
Irish Guards	⁽⁸⁾—	630	⁽⁸⁾—
Welsh Guards	⁽⁸⁾—	600	⁽⁸⁾—
Royal Scots	⁽⁸⁾—	580	⁽⁸⁾—
Royal Highland Fusiliers	⁽⁸⁾—	600	⁽⁸⁾—
Kings Own Scottish Borderers	⁽⁸⁾—	580	⁽⁸⁾—
Black Watch	⁽⁸⁾—	660	⁽⁸⁾—
Highlanders	⁽⁸⁾—	610	⁽⁸⁾—
Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders	⁽⁸⁾—	590	⁽⁸⁾—
Princess of Wales's Royal Regiment	⁽⁸⁾—	1,330	⁽⁸⁾—
Royal Regiment of Fusiliers	⁽⁸⁾—	1,300	⁽⁸⁾—
Royal Anglian Regiment	⁽⁸⁾—	1,320	⁽⁸⁾—
Kings Own Royal Border Regiment	⁽⁸⁾—	620	⁽⁸⁾—
King's Regiment	⁽⁸⁾—	600	⁽⁸⁾—
1 Prince of Wales' Own Regiment	⁽⁸⁾—	660	⁽⁸⁾—
Green Howards	⁽⁸⁾—	620	⁽⁸⁾—
Queen's Lancashire Regiment	⁽⁸⁾—	660	⁽⁸⁾—
Duke of Wallington's Regiment	⁽⁸⁾—	670	⁽⁸⁾—
Devonshire and Dorset Regiment	⁽⁸⁾—	620	⁽⁸⁾—
Cheshire Regiment	⁽⁸⁾—	580	⁽⁸⁾—
Royal Welch Fusiliers	⁽⁸⁾—	660	⁽⁸⁾—
Royal Regiment of Wales	⁽⁸⁾—	590	⁽⁸⁾—
Royal Gloucestershire, Berkshire and Wiltshire Regiment	⁽⁸⁾—	640	⁽⁸⁾—
Worcestershire and Sherwood Foresters Regiment	⁽⁸⁾—	620	⁽⁸⁾—
Staffordshire Regiment	⁽⁸⁾—	610	⁽⁸⁾—
The Light Infantry Regiment	⁽⁸⁾—	1,320	⁽⁸⁾—
Royal Green Jackets	⁽⁸⁾—	1,290	⁽⁸⁾—
The Parachute Regiment	⁽⁸⁾—	2,080	⁽⁸⁾—
The Royal Irish Regiment (General Service)	⁽⁸⁾—	660	⁽⁸⁾—
Others	⁽⁸⁾—	530	⁽⁸⁾—

Army Air Corps	2,160	1,930	89
Royal Army Chaplains Department	160	140	87
The Royal Logistics Corps	16,390	15,570	96
Royal Army Medical Corps	3,280	2,780	86
Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers	9,580	9,760	102
Adjutant General's Corps (Provost Branch)	2,020	2,020	100
Adjutant General's Corps (Staff and Personnel Support Branch)	4,400	4,570	104
Adjutant General's Corps (Educational and Training Services Branch)	330	340	103
Adjutant General's Corps (Army Legal Service)	120	90	72
Royal Army Veterinary Corps	200	190	94
Small Arms School Corps	160	150	97
Royal Army Dental Corps	440	370	84
Intelligence Corps	1,840	1,430	78
Army Physical Training Corps	440	430	98
General Service Corps	⁽⁸⁾—	⁽⁸⁾—	⁽⁸⁾—
Queen Alexandra's Royal Army Nursing Corps	1,100	820	74
Corps of Army Music	920	980	106
Long Service List	480	610	127
Unallocated	⁽⁸⁾—	10	⁽⁸⁾—
Total trained regular Army and FTRS	100,770	98,940	98
Ghurkhas	3,400	3,320	98
Full-time trained Army	104,170	102,260	98

Regimental Uniforms/Mascots

Ann Winterton: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence who meets the cost of the new uniforms and mess-dress of existing personnel up to the date of changeover for the future (a) Mercia, (b) Yorkshire and (c) Scottish regiments. [392]

Mr. Touhig [pursuant to the reply, 24 May 2005, Official Report, c.56W]: I am now clarifying the information provided.

The answer I gave stated that officers received a tax-free allowance to enable them to maintain their uniform and dress. It has now come to my attention that officers in fact receive an annual tax-credit, known as income tax relief for maintenance of uniform", rather than an allowance as such. This means that a certain proportion of their salary is not subject to income tax. For dismounted male officers below the rank of colonel, and therefore all personnel belonging to those regiments identified in your original question, this annual rate amounts to £589.29 of earnings against which income tax is not paid.

Mr. Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the mascot of the (a) Queen's Lancashire Regiment and (b) King's Own Borderers is; and what the value of silverware held by each regiment is. [12420]

Mr. Touhig: Neither the Queen's Lancashire Regiment or the King's Own Royal Border Regiment have a mascot.

The silverware of the Queen's Lancashire Regiment and the King's Own Royal Border Regiment belongs to the regiments themselves. The funding for the purchase, maintenance and insurance of the silverware comes from non-public funds and is therefore a private matter for the trustees of the regiments.

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