§ Mr. Sean HughesTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence what are the estimated savings envisaged under his proposals for the future of the Brigade of Gurkhas.
§ Mr. Archie HamiltonAlthough the future deployment and precise force structure of the Brigade of Gurkhas have not yet been decided, annual expenditure on the planned Gurkha force after 1997 is likely to be greater than current expenditure on the Gurkhas as a result of the loss of the contribution made by the Hong Kong Government.
§ Mr. Sean HughesTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is the planned strength of(a) the Queen's Gurkhas Engineers, (b) the Queen's Gurkhas Signals and (c) the Queen's Gurkhas Transport Regiment after 1997.
§ Mr. Archie HamiltonThe plans for the future of the Queen's Gurkha Engineers, the Queen's Gurkha Signals and the Gurkha Transport Regiment after 1997 include their retention at a strength that is operationally and organisationally viable. The eventual number of squadrons that will be required will depend on detailed decisions on the Brigade of Gurkhas which have not yet been taken.