§ Dr. David ClarkTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many members of(a) the Gurkhas and (b) the Royal Irish Regiment are included in the figure given for the strength of the Army on paragraph 507 of the "Statement on the Defence Estimates 1995". [4574]
§ Mr. SoamesThe figure included some 4,000 Gurkhas and 850 general service personnel of the Royal Irish Regiment. It excluded full and part-time soldiers of the Royal Irish Regiment (Home Service).
§ Dr. ClarkTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is the planned establishment in April 1996 of(a) the Gurkhas and (b) the Royal Irish Regiment. [4575]
§ Mr. SoamesThe planned establishment for the Gurkhas at April 1996 is around 4,000; for the Royal Irish Regiment (General Service) 850, and for the Royal Irish Regiment (Home Service) 3,300 full-time soldiers and 2,400 part-time soldiers.