§ Mr. Goodhartasked the Minister of State for Defence if he will make a statement about the scheme under which certain Army units have continued in being on a representative basis.
§ Mr. BlakerFour of the units concerned were restored to full battalion status in January, 1972. The future of the remaining five units has recently been reviewed. It has been decided that, subject to unforeseen changes in the manning situation and in operational requirements four of them will continue at least until 1975. The fifth unit—4th Battalion 133W The Queen's Regiment Albuhera Company—has always been at low strength and will disband towards the end of 1973 after its present task of training junior soldiers ends owing to the raising of the school leaving age.