§ Mr. Peter Robinsonasked the Secretary of State for Defence what is the present troop level in Northern Ireland; what it was at the corresponding period for each of the past four years; and what plans he has to increase or decrease the number over the next 12 months.
§ Mr. GoodhartThe current force level in Northern Ireland is nine major units and one sub-unit of the Regular Army in the infantry role, together with supporting arms and services, 11 battalions of the Ulster Defence Regiment and small Royal Navy and Royal Air Force elements. On the same dates in each of the past four years the number of major units of the Regular Army was as follows:
Units 1977 14 1978 13 1979 13 1980 11 There are no plans at present to reduce further the number of regular major units, but as a result of the reductions which have been made over the past 18 months we have decided that from September this year one brigade headquarters, that of 3 Infantry Brigade, at present based at Portadown, will be disbanded. This will leave 8 Infantry Brigade based in Londonderry to support the RUC in the western half of the Province, and 39 Infantry Brigade, in Lisburn, to support it in the eastern half.