§ Mr. SternTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he has any plans for expansion of Territorial Army units based in the west country.
§ Mr. NeubertAs part of the phase II enhancement of the Territorial Army announced by the Government in 1984 the establishment of the Territorial Army in the west country has been increased by over 850 personnel. Of these additional numbers 175 will have been incorporated into existing Royal Army Medical Corps and Royal Military
619WPolice units and the balance into the formation of new Infantry, Army Air Corps and Royal Army Ordnance Corps units.
The main enhancement to the infantry is the formation of a new home defence battalion, 4 Devon and Dorsets, with companies based at new TA centres at Exeter, which has just been completed, and Paignton and Plymouth which are both under construction. A new company of the RAOC, 94 Ordnance Company, will be based at Keynsham, near Bristol, while the Territorial Army's first and currently, only squadron of the AAC is at Middle Wallop. All these units have been formed and are gradually increasing towards their established strength.
No additional enhancements to the RTA are currently planned.