Ulster Defence Regiment (Hansard, 19 February 1991)

7. Mr. John D. Taylor
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many part-time and full-time members there are in the Ulster Defence Regiment.

§ Mr. Archie Hamilton
On 1 January 1991, there were 3,088 part-time and 2,955 permanent cadre members of the Ulster Defence Regiment.

Mr. Taylor
As a Minister involved 20 years ago in the launch of the Ulster Defence Regiment, I welcome those figures. Will the Ulster Defence Regiment continue to have sufficient resources made available to it to maintain its manpower, especially as it is in competition with other security forces such as the RUC, the Territorial Army and various Irish regiments in the regular British Army? From the experience of the past 20 years, will the Minister ask the Leader of the House to provide time for a debate on the Ulster Defence Regiment so that we can further improve and strengthen that regiment in Northern Ireland, whose service is respected throughout the whole community?

§ Mr. Hamilton
I, too, pay tribute to the Ulster Defence Regiment, which plays a valuable role in combating terrorism in Northern Ireland. We will, of course, ensure that it is properly funded. I am sure that my right hon. Friend the Leader of the House will have heard the right hon. Gentleman's remark about a debate.

§ Mr. Conway
Does my hon. Friend accept that the UDR is an effective part of the Territorial Army and that any move to reduce the scale of the Territorial Army, which consumes less than 3.5 per cent. of the Army's budget, would be greatly contested by many in the House?

§ Mr. Hamilton
I must put my hon. Friend right. The UDR is not part of the Territorial Army; in Northern Ireland, the Territorial Army is a wholly different organisation. However, I hear what my hon. Friend says about the Territorial Army and I will take that into account when we come to consider its future.