§ Mr. Wigleyasked the Secretary of State for Defence what arrangements there will be for those men now forming the permanent garrison on the Falklands to have leave to return home; when men of the Welsh Guards and of the Scots Guards will be allowed home on leave; and whether any special arrangements are to be made to allow wives and children of those permanently based on the Falklands to live there.
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§ Mr. BlakerThe units involved in the operation to recapture the Falkland Islands will be returning to the United Kingdom as soon as possible. Members of the 2nd and 3rd battalions, the Parachute Regiment, who were among the first to deploy to the South Atlantic, have already come back, and the majority of 3 Cdo Brigade are on their way home. The return of the other units concerned, including the Welsh and Scots Guards from 5 Infantry Brigade will be arranged as soon as possible. Further information on the planned dates will be given in the near future. Plans for the longer-term garrison are under consideration.