§ Mr. Biggs-Davisonasked the Minister of State for Defence what is the present strength of the Ulster Defence Regiment; what proportion thereof are Roman Catholics; and what is the present trend of resignations, both Protestant and Roman Catholic.
§ Mr. G. Johnson SmithAs at 11th October, the total strength of the Ulster 63W Defence Regiment was 9,043, of whom about 4 per cent. were Roman Catholics.
The present weekly resignation rates for Protestants and Roman Catholics are about 0.25 per cent. and 0.65 per cent. of their enlisted strength, respectively. The total wastage has been more than offset by new recruits.