§ Mr. BeggsTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many(a) full-time and (b) part-time members of the armed forces were stationed in Northern Ireland on 31 January 1998, 31 January 1999 and 31 January 2000; and if he will make a statement. [108109]
§ Mr. SpellarThe number of members of the Armed Forces serving in Northern Ireland are set out in the table:
Strength as at1 31 January 1998 31 January 1999 31 December 19992 Army (General Service) 9,840 9,063 8,697 Royal Air Force 1,152 1,150 1,133 Royal Navy 321 182 179 Royal Irish Regiment3 2,703 2,627 2,511 Royal Irish Regiment4 1,967 1,923 1,799 Total 15,983 14,945 14,319 1 Excludes those forces fully committed to Northern Ireland but rear-based on the mainland 2 Strengths given for December 1999 as the January 2000 figure is not yet available 3 Home Service full-time 4 Home Service part-time