Ulster Defence Regiment (Hansard, 11 July 1990)

§ Mr. McNamara
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will give such details as he is prepared to make public of the military equipment of the Ulster Defence Regiment and its reserve, listing separately firearms and the type of firearms, motor vehicles, armoured vehicles and the number of radio, radar and electronics surveillance equipment with which the regiment was equipped at the end of 1989.

§ Mr. Archie Hamilton
The current deployment of weapons and vehicles for the Ulster Defence Regiment is as follows; the equivalent data for the end of 1989 have not been kept. The UDR has no reserve.

Weapons and vehicles Number

5.56mm Rifle SA 80 5,843

5.56mm Rifle Light Support Weapon 912

7.62mm Machine Gun 6

9mm Pistol (Browning) ¹865

9mm Pistol (Walther) ²1,985

Shotgun 3

L67 Riot Gun 167

Landrovers 447

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Weapons and vehicles Number

4 Ton Trucks 16

Trailers 61

Recruiting Trailer 1

Other Vehicles 340

¹ 265 of which are issued as personal protection weapons—PPWs.

² 1,846 of which are issued as PPWs.

The Walther 9mm pistol has replaced the .38in revolver, the .22in pistol, and 7.65mm pistol as the standard UDR PPW. However, some Browning 9mm pistols are still issued as PPWs. The L67 riot gun was issued for use by the UDR in 1989. Other equipment can be issued when commitments or circumstances dictate. The radio allocation varies from week to week, depending upon the tasks and commitments of each battalion.

§ Mr. McNamara
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement concerning current policy and practice of deployment of the Ulster Defence Regiment, with particular reference to the areas and circumstances in which it is deemed opportune and inopportune to deploy the regiment.

§ Mr. Archie Hamilton
The role of the Ulster Defence Regiment, as of any other regiment deployed in Northern Ireland, is to support the Royal Ulster Constabulary in the fight against terrorism. To fulfil this role the Ulster Defence Regiment may be deployed how and where military support to the police is required, except that for policy reasons the Ulster Defence Regiment is riot deployed in west Belfast or the city of Londonderry; nor is it used for crowd control or riot duties.

§ Mr. McNamara
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many members of the Ulster Defence Regiment are currently estimated to be Catholics; what was the total recruitment in 1989; and what proportion of those recruited in 1989 are thought to be Catholic.

§ Mr. Archie Hamilton
At the end of April 1990, a total of 184 soldiers, or 3 per cent. of the UDR were Roman Catholics. During the period 1 January to 31 December 1989, a total of 898 were enlisted, 34 of whom were Catholics.

§ Mr. McNamara
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will give details of the number of operatives, by rank, of those who have joined the Ulster Defence Regiment and its reserve, and of those who have resigned from the Ulster Defence Regiment, and its reserve, in the calendar year 1989.

§ Mr. Archie Hamilton
My noble Friend the Under-Secretary of State for the Armed Forces will write to the hon. Member.

§ Mr. McNamara
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will give details of the costs of the Ulster Defence Regiment and its reserve, divided between wages and salaries, other personnel costs, costs of construction and buildings, investment in military equipment and other costs for the fiscal years 1988–89 and 1989–90.

§ Mr. Archie Hamilton
Estimated costs of the Ulster Defence Regiment for the financial years 1988–89 and 1989–90 are as follows:
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£ million, current prices

Financial year Wages and salaries Support costs Capital expenditure on equipment Total

1988–89 54.1 5.0 0.6 59.7

1989–90 54.7 5.0 0.6 60.3

The figures for works costs are not readily available.

§ Mr. McNamara
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what was the average time served by (i) full-time and (ii) part-time(a) officers and (b) other ranks of the Ulster Defence Regiment as at 31 December 1989.

§ Mr. Archie Hamilton
The most recent information available is for 1988 when the average length of service in the UDR was:

Permanent cadre Part-time

Officers

Male 4 years 6 months 9 years 4 months

Female 4 years 5 months 4 years 1 month

Soldiers

Male 7 years 6 months 6 years 9 months

Female 6 years 9 months 4 years 6 months

Weapons and vehicles	Number
5.56mm Rifle SA 80	5,843
5.56mm Rifle Light Support Weapon	912
7.62mm Machine Gun	6
9mm Pistol (Browning)	¹865
9mm Pistol (Walther)	²1,985
Shotgun	3
L67 Riot Gun	167
Landrovers	447

Weapons and vehicles	Number
4 Ton Trucks	16
Trailers	61
Recruiting Trailer	1
Other Vehicles	340
¹ 265 of which are issued as personal protection weapons—PPWs.
² 1,846 of which are issued as PPWs.

£ million, current prices
Financial year	Wages and salaries	Support costs	Capital expenditure on equipment	Total
1988–89	54.1	5.0	0.6	59.7
1989–90	54.7	5.0	0.6	60.3

	Permanent cadre	Part-time
Officers
Male	4 years 6 months	9 years 4 months
Female	4 years 5 months	4 years 1 month
Soldiers
Male	7 years 6 months	6 years 9 months
Female	6 years 9 months	4 years 6 months