§ Mr. Stratton Millsasked the Minister of State for Defence what is the average time now taken for the vetting procedure for a man applying to join the Ulster Defence Regiment.
§ Mr. BlakerThe situation remains as given in my predecessor's reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Down, North (Mr. Kilfedder) on 11th February, 1972.—[Vol. 830, c.452.]
Mr. Stratton Milkasked the Minister of State for Defence whether flak jackets are now available to every man in the Ulster Defence Regiment.
§ Mr. BlakerA pool of flak jackets is held in Northern Ireland which allows for about 3,000 for the Ulster Defence Regiment. This is considered sufficient to equip all members of the regiment under normal deployment who are on duty at any one time. When a call-out of the regiment for extended service occurs, additional issues are made from Regular Army stocks.
§ Mr. Stratton Millsasked the Minister of State for Defence if he will indicate the number of persons who resigned from the Ulster Defence Regiment in each month of 1972; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. BlakerI would refer my hon. Friend to my reply on 15th November to my hon. Friend the Member for Down, North (Mr. Kilfedder).
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§ Mr. Stratton Millsasked the Minister of State for Defence if he will indicate the number of applicants to join the Ulster Defence Regiment each month of 1972; and if he will indicate the number accepted.
§ Mr. BlakerThe information is as follows:
1972 Applicants Accepted January 652 748 February 684 612 March 753 569 April 474 339 May 396 392 June 275 253 July 209 140 August 801 259 September 269 278 October 277 304 Up to 8th November 115 104 Note: Acceptances follow a few weeks after applications and are, therefore, not necessarily related to the applicants in the same month.
§ Mr. Stratton Millsasked the Minister of State for Defence how many members of the Territorial Army in Northern Ireland have applied for transfer to the Ulster Defence Regiment, at the latest convenient date.
§ Mr. BlakerA total of 54 members of the TAVR have to date applied and been accepted for transfer to the UDR under the special arrangements announced in October, 1971. This figure does not include former members of the TAVR who may have applied to join the UDR at the conclusion of their normal TAVR engagements.