Ulster Defence Regiment

HC Deb 15 December 1988 vol 143 cc687-8W

Mr. Livingstone

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the official duties and responsibilities separately of the Ulster Defence Regiment and the regular forces.

Mr. Archie Hamilton

The role of the armed forces in Northern Ireland, including the Ulster Defence Regiment, is to support the RUC in the defeat of terrorism and the maintenance of law and order. The duties and

Premature voluntary release: Army 1983–1988
Year	1983: 3rd	1984: 3rd	1985: 3rd	1986: 3rd	1987: 3rd	1988: 3rd
	Quarter	Quarter	Quarter	Quarter	Quarter	Quarter1
Male Officers	507	146	562	153	695	167	661	188	661	173	501	208
Female Officers	16	6	25	8	37	4	25	7	39	9	25	11
Servicemen	1,907	503	2,491	637	2,936	769	2,643	580	2,997	749	2,702	912
Servicewomen	76	19	86	24	101	22	130	28	128	29	107	36
Total	2,506	674	3,164	822	3,769	962	3,459	803	3,825	960	3,335	1,167
1 figures up to end of September 1988

responsibilities in connection with this role are set out in statements on the defence estimates and in such documents as "Regulations of the Ulster Defence Regiment" published by HMSO.