§ Mr. SoamesTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) whether a 24-month gap between tours has been achieved for(a) the 1st Battalion, The Royal Scots and (b)the 1st Battalion The King's Own Scottish Borderers since 1997; and if he will make a statement; [140454]
(2) what the (a) shortest and (b) longest gap between tours experienced by (i) the 1st Battalion, The Royal Scots and (ii) the 1st Battalion The King's Own Scottish Borderers was since 1997; and if he will make a statement. [140455]
§ Mr. IngramThe Army's Harmony guidelines recommend a tour interval of 24 months between each six month operational tour, per Army Battalion. Since 1997, the 1st Battalion, The Royal Scots and the 1st Battalion, The King's Own Scottish Borderers have both experienced a gap of at least 24 months between operational tours.
The 1st Battalion, The Royal Scots have undertaken two unaccompanied operational tours since 1997, with a gap of 36 months between them. In addition they have completed a two year residential (accompanied by families) tour in Northern Ireland.
The 1st Battalion, The King's Own Scottish Borderers, have completed four operational tours since 1997. The longest and shortest gaps between these tours are 26 months and 10 months respectively.