§ Mr. LawsTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many military personnel have been allocated to service in Northern Ireland for 2001–02; and how many there have been in each of the last 20 years. [18823]
§ Mr. IngramThe number of military personnel (Army, Navy and RAF) stationed in Northern Ireland for the last 15 years is set out in the table (figures for the Navy and RAF prior to 1985 are not available):
As at 31 October Number of security force personnel 1985 16,536 1986 18,851 1987 18,003 1988 18,295 1989 18,626 1990 17,628 1991 17,962 1992 18,982 1993 19,022 1994 18,345 1995 17,070 1996 16,490 1997 16,716 1998 15,566 1999 14,459 2000 13,640 2001 13,820 As well as those troops stationed in Northern Ireland there are troops under the command of the General Officer Commanding Northern Ireland (GOC NI) that are rear based on the mainland and can be called forward to the Province as and when required. In addition other troops can be made available to the GOC NI from Land Command, if required, to help out during the height of the summer marching season.
The security situation is the determinant as to how many security force personnel are stationed in the Province at any given time. Therefore, we cannot say how many personnel may be needed in Northern Ireland next year.
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§ Mr. LawsTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence what his estimate is of the level of expenditure on armed forces based in Northern Ireland for each of the years 1984–85 to 2001–02; and if he will make a statement. [18808]
§ Mr. IngramThe General Officer Commanding Northern Ireland was vested as a Top Level Budget (TLB) holder on 1 April 1994. Figures for the total expenditure in his TLB are in the annual Appropriation Account, copies of which are in the Library of the House.