HC Deb 01 November 1988 vol 139 c565W
Mr. McNamara

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is the manpower strength of the British Army in Northern Ireland, giving details of the number of operatives for the categories Ulster Defence Regiment, Regular British Army and British Territorial Army, on 30 September.

Mr. Archie Hamilton

The figures are as at 30 June 1988, the latest available.

Number
Ulster Defence Regiment 6,310
Regular Army/Royal Marines 1 9,868
Territorial Army 3,762

The figures for the Ulster Defence Regiment include both full time and part-time soldiers. Soldiers of the Territorial Army are not used in support of the RUC in counter-terrorist operations.

1 From time to time a Royal Marine Commando is deployed in an infantry role.