§ Mr. John BrowneTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) whether the men of the Brigade of Gurkhas and RAF Regiment meet his infantry criteria of universality of posting both in terms of geographic location and type of duty, including armoured formations;
(2) what assessment he has made of the quality of soldiering now being provided in the Household Division, Light Division and the Parachute Regiment;
(3) what assessment he has made of the extent to which the British Army is able to meet its present role and tasks;
(4) how many battalion year tasks will be relinquished as a result of his recent assessment of the new military threat now facing the United Kingdom; and if he will list them;
(5) what assessment he has made of whether the training of the officers and men of the Household Division, Light Division and the Parachute Regiment currently fit them to meet his criteria of universality in terms of geographic location and role, including armoured formations.
§ Mr. Archie HamiltonMy right hon. Friend the Secretary of State hopes to make a statement on the restructuring of the Army before the House rises for the summer recess. It would not be appropriate to comment on these matters until then.
§ Dr. ReidTo ask the Secetary of State for Defence when he expects to make an announcement on regimental restructuring in the Army.
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§ Mr. Archie HamiltonAs my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Defence said in the House on 2 July, he hopes to make a statement on Army restructuring before the summer recess.