§ Mr. CarmichaelTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) how many soldiers from Scottish battalions have been stationed in Northern Ireland in each of the last 10 years; and what estimate his Department has made of the number of soldiers required in future years; [141656]
(2) how many British soldiers have been stationed in Northern Ireland in each of the last 10 years; and what estimate his Department has made of the number of soldiers required in future years. [141657]
§ Mr. IngramThe number of Army personnel stationed in Northern Ireland, in each of the last 10 years, is as follows:
Date as at 31 October Number of army personnel 1994 16,960 1995 15,680 1996 15,060 1997 15,250 1998 14,100 1999 13,130 2000 12,240 2001 12,540 2002 12,830 2003 12,300 Information on the exact number of soldiers from Scottish battalions who have been stationed in Northern Ireland in each of the last ten years, is not held centrally and could be provided only at 131W disproportionate cost. I can, however, list those Scottish battalions that have served in Northern Ireland over the last 10 years. The minimum manning strength for an infantry battalion in Northern Ireland is 550.
Date Battalion April 1992-December 1994 1st Battalion, The King's Owns Scottish Borderers
September 1992-March 1993 1st Battalion, The Royal Scots November 1992-May 1993 1st Battalion, The Queen's Own Highlanders
May 1994-November 1994 1st Battalion, The Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders
June 1994-December 1994 1 st Battalion, The Scots Guards December 1994-April 1995 1st Battalion. The Highlanders May 1995-November 1995 1st Battalion, The Black Watch September 1995-April 1997 1st Battalion, The Highlanders October 1995-March 1996 1st Battalion, The Royal Scots November 1995-May 1996 1st Battalion, The King's Owns Scottish Borderers
May 1996-November 1996 1st Battalion, The Scots Guards February 1997-February 1999 1st Battalion, The Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders
May 1997-November 1997 1st Battalion, The Royal Highland Fusiliers
June 1997-December 1997 1st Battalion, The Royal Scots September 1997-March 1998 1st Battalion, The King's Owns Scottish Borderers
March 1998-March 2000 1st Battalion, The Scots Guards June 1998-November 1998 1st Battalion, The Highlanders December 1998-May 1999 1st Battalion, The Black Watch March 1999-August 1999 1st Battalion. The Royal Scots January 2000-April 2000 1st Battalion, The Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders
June 2000-December 2000 1st Battalion, The Highlanders September 2000-April 2002 1st Battalion, The Royal Scots March 2001-March 2003 1st Battalion, The Royal Highland Fusiliers
March 2001-March 2003 1st Battalion, The Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders
June 2001-November 2001 1st Battalion, The Scots Guards September 2001-March 2002 1st Battalion, The King's Owns Scottish Borderers
All military force structures are based on operational need given the current and future security environment in which the armed forces are likely to operate. Until there is agreement on Security Normalisation in Northern Ireland, it would be premature to come to any conclusions on the future composition of the Northern Ireland garrison.