Mr. O'NeillTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is the average interval between short tours of duty in Northern Ireland for(a) infantry battalions and (b) armoured regiments over the last decade.
§ Mr. Archie HamiltonIt has been our aim that intervals between all emergency tours—deployments to Belize, Cyprus and the Falkland islands as well as Northern86W Ireland—are 24 months long, but this has not always been achieved. Only one armoured regiment has served in the short tour role in Northern Ireland in the past 10 years; the 3rd Royal Tank Regiment in 1990. The reduction in tension in Europe means that units based in BAOR can now be used on a more frequent basis; this should ensure that the 24-month tour interval target is usually achieved.