§ Mr. ColvinTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his answer of 5 March,Official Report, column 342, why the band of the Prince of Wales's Own Regiment is not due to deploy with the regiment to Bosnia; what duties bandsmen of the Cheshire Regiment have carried out in Bosnia; who will carry out those duties during deployment of the Prince of Wales's Own Regiment; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Archie HamiltonBandsmen of the Cheshire Regiment, deployed in Bosnia with the battalion, are being used primarily as medics and drivers. As an integral part of the battalion, the tasking and deployment of the band of the Prince of Wales's Own Regiment is at the discretion of the commanding officer. In this case, he has decided to employ the band on rear party duties as he has sufficient drivers and medics elsewhere in the battalion.