§ Mr. Nairnasked the Secretary of State for War what regiments are to be affected by Phase II of the reduction of the Royal Armoured Corps.
§ Mr. SoamesThe White Paper on the Future Organisation of the Army (Cmnd. 230) set out proposals for a reduction in the number of regiments. The reduction was to be made in two phases; Phase I for completion by 1959, and Phase II by 1962. The Royal Armoured Corps was to lose six regiments in Phase I and two more in Phase II. The details of this second reduction, which were not included in the White Paper, have now been settled and I have decided that it will be36W made by means of a reorganisation of the Household Cavalry and by the amalgamation of the 9th Queen's Royal Lancers and the 12th Royal Lancers.
The Household Cavalry will be reorganised in a way which will save almost the equivalent of one regiment in numbers, while keeping both the Life Guards and the Royal Horse Guards in being. Both regiments will remain able to take their place in any field of operations when called upon to do so and at the same time continue to carry out their ceremonial duties.
It is a matter of the deepest regret that the 9th Lancers and 12th Lancers should have to be amalgamated in this final phase of army reorganisation. The new regiment will be founded on their most distinguished histories.