§ 26. Mr. Gerald HowarthTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the role of the Parachute Regiment. [61367]
§ Mr. Doug HendersonThe Parachute Regiment provides a unique airborne capability. At present it comprises three Regular battalions and two Territorial Army battalions.
The Strategic Defence Review concludes that, in the future, one Parachute battalion group would be required at very high readiness as part of the first echelon of the Joint Rapid Reaction Forces. Two of the three regular Parachute Regiment battalions will form an integral part of the Army's new 16 Air Assault Brigade and will take it in turns to deliver this parachute capability.
The third Regular Parachute Regiment battalion will not be used in a parachute role, but instead will be used for other infantry tasks.
As part of the restructuring of the Territorial Army announced by my right hon. Friend on 17 November, the Parachute Regiment will retain one Territorial Army battalion, which will be nationally recruited.