HC Deb 27 January 1977 vol 924 cc733-4W
Mr. Viggers

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the units of the Armed Services which mounted the guard at Buckingham Palace during 1976 and the units which are scheduled to mount the guard during 1977.

Mr. Robert C. Brown

The information requested is as follows:

1976

  • 22nd Light Air Defence Regiment, Royal Artillery.
  • 1st Battalion, Grenadier Guards.
  • 1st Battalion, Coldstream Guards.
  • 2nd Battalion, Coldstream Guards.
  • 1st Battalion, Scots Guards.
  • 1st Battalion, Welsh Guards.
  • 1st Battalion, The Royal Green Jackets.
  • 2nd Battalion, The 2nd King Edward VII's Own Gurkha Rifles.
  • The Queen's Colour Squadron of The Royal Air Force.

1977

  • 1st Battalion, Grenadier Guards.
  • 2nd Battalion, Grenadier Guards.
  • 1st Battalion, Coldstream Guards.
  • 1st Battalion, Scots Guards.
  • 1st Battalion, The King's Own Scottish Borderers.
  • 1st Battalion, The Royal Irish Rangers.
  • 1st Battalion, The Gloucestershire Regiment.
  • 3rd Battalion, The Royal Green Jackets.
  • 2nd Battalion, The 2nd King Edward VII's Own Gurkha Rifles.
  • 6th Queen Elizabeth's Own Gurkha Rifles.
  • The Queen's Colour Squadron of The Royal Air Force.

Mr. Viggers

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what are the criteria upon which units are selected for the purposes of mounting guard at Buckingham Palace.

Mr. Robert C. Brown

There are no special criteria for the selection of units for this duty, other than their general availability. Battalions of Foot Guards stationed in London District are normally detailed by the Household Division to pro- vide the guards for Buckingham Palace, St. James's Palace, Windsor Castle and the Tower of London, as this is the traditional responsibility of troops of the Household Division. However, there are not always the requisite number of Foot Guards battalions available, because of operational, training and other commitments, and when this happens, other major units provide the guards for Buckingham Palace, St. James's Palace and the Tower of London. The Royal Air Force also provides guards on occasions.

Back to