HC Deb 18 June 1986 vol 99 cc577-8W
Sir John Biggs-Davison

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what is the Army's policy regarding geographical and ethnic recruitment to the Household Division.

Mr. Freeman

Geographical recruiting areas for the regiments of the Household Division are as follows:

  • Life Guards
  • Blues and Royals
  • Great Britain and Ireland
  • Grenadier Guards
  • Coldstream Guards
  • Cover every English county between them
  • Scots Guards:
  • Scotland, Cumbria, Isle of Man, Lancashire, Corby, Darlington.
  • Irish Guards:
  • Ireland, Greater London, Merseyside, Birmingham, Manchester.
  • Welsh Guards:
  • Wales, Hereford, Cheshire

Selection to the Household Division is on merit alone. Ethnic origin is an irrelevant factor in the selection process.