§ Mr. ChurchillTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence what proportion of his duty hours(a) a guardsman and (b) a trooper in the Household Division has spent on 63W public duties over the most recent (i) quarterly and (ii) annual period for which figures are available; and what assessment he has made of the impact of public duties on recruitment to the Household Division; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. HanleyIt is not possible to answer the question in the form requested. On average, however, a guardsman in a public duties battalion is committed to nine days public duties per month, rising to 13 days in the ceremonial season and a trooper to 10 days per month, rising to 14 days in the ceremonial season.
There is no evidence to suggest that the Household Division's requirement to perform public duties has any effect on its ability to meet its recruitment targets.