§ Mr. William Rossasked the Secretary of State for Defence what was the number of soldiers in Northern Ireland at 1 April; what was the number at 1 January 1982, 1 September 1981, 1 June 1981, 1 April 1981, 1 April 1980 and 1 April 1979; in each case, how many were on administrative duties; and what, in each case, was the percentage of the total so engaged.
§ Mr. WigginThe total number of soldiers, excluding UDR and Royal Marines, in Northern Ireland on the relevant dates in 1979, 1980 and 1981 was:
Numbers 1 September 1981 10,945 1 June 1981 10,969 1 April 1981 11,215 1 April 1980 12,193 1 April 1979 12,886 The dates in January 1982 for which information is available is 5 January when the figure was 11,040. Figures for 1 April are not yet available: the last strength return being for 3 March when the figure was 10,672. It is not possible to identify how many of these were engaged on administrative duties.