HL Deb 10 February 1987 vol 484 cc511-2

2.44 p.m.

The Marquess of Salisbury

My Lords, I beg leave to ask the second Question standing in my name on the Order Paper.

The Question was as follows:

To ask Her Majesty's Government what average percentage of nights are spent on duty by personnel in the resident battalions in Northern Ireland.

Lord Trefgarne

My Lords, currently personnel in the resident battalions in Northern Ireland on average spend about 57 per cent. of nights away from their resident location. No figures are kept for nights spent actually on operations.

The Marquess of Salisbury

My Lords, is that not an excessively high figure? Does it not put an undue strain on personnel? Further, if that is an average figure, does it not mean that some personnel are spending considerably more nights away than the average?

Lord Trefgarne

Yes, my Lords, it is an average figure, but my noble friend will be reassured to learn that recently the average has been reduced from 70 per cent.