§ Mr. John Morrisasked the Minister of State for Defence what is the total of soldiers recruited from Wales or to Welsh infantry regiments have been posted on completion of training to English infantry regiments for the last available year; and what is the estimate for each month thereafter to August, 1972.
§ Mr. G. Johnson Smith:On completion of training at Cwrt-y-Gollen, 21 Welsh recruits were posted to English regiments during the period from 1st May, 1971, to 30th April, 1972. The estimates for May, June, July and August 1972 are 12, Nil, 18 and 15, respectively.
§ Mr. John Morrisasked the Minister of State for Defence how many soldiers from Welsh infantry regiments have been posted to English infantry regiments for each of the last five years.
§ Mr. G. Johnson Smith:The total number of soldiers from Welsh infantry battalions cross posted to English infantry battalions in the last five years is as follows:—
1968 Nil 1969–1970 123 1971 Nil 1972 54
§ Mr. John Morrisasked the Minister of State for Defence what consideration has been given to the establishment of a third battalion of Welsh infantry in lieu of one of the English battalions.
§ Mr. G. Johnson Smith:When it was decided in 1971 to raise four additional infantry battalions, the choice naturally lay between those regiments in which battalions had previously been reduced to representative companies with a view to their eventual expansion. These did not include any Welsh regiments.
There is no present intention of raising any additional infantry battalions.