§ Mr. Trotterasked the Secretary of State for Defence to which units the men of 41 Commando will be posted; to what extent those units are at present under strength; whether the change in organisation will increase the number of marines assigned to the Commando Brigade for service on the northern flank; what units will carry out the wartime role at present entrusted to 41 Commando; and what will be the savings.
§ Mr. SpeedThe men of 41 Commando will be posted, in the main, to other Commando forces units. At present Commando forces are about 17 per cent. below full strength. All four Commandos are assigned to NATO and have deployment options to the Northern Flank and the Atlantic Islands. The number of men available for winter training in Norway will not reduce this year.
Savings will be achieved by lowering and rephasing recruitment to meet the needs of three instead of four Commandos, and by reducing equipment, accommodation and running costs.