§ Mrs. Margaret EwingTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the known and foreseeable residential garrison duty tours; if the units on residential garrison duty are more or less than battalion size; and if he will name those units which are on residential garrison duty tours at present and planned to be in the future.
§ Mr. SoamesApart from Germany, there are three overseas garrisons that include resident major units: Hong Kong, Brunei and Cyprus. In Hong Kong the only such unit is the 1st Battalion, Royal Gurkha Rifles. It is due to leave Hong Kong in October 1996 and will be replaced by two successive battalions on four month unaccompanied tours. In Brunei there is one Gurkha battalion, currently the 2nd Battalion, Royal Gurkha Rifles which is due to remain there until November 1996 when it will be replaced by the 3rd Battalion, Royal Gurkha Rifles. In Cyprus there are two battalions resident at any one time. The current battalions are the 1st Battalion; the Royal Irish Regiment, which will be replaced by the 1st Battalion Royal Gloucester, Wiltshire and Berkshire Regiment in May 1995, and the 1st Battalion, Royal Green Jackets, which will be replaced by the 1st Battalion, Royal Kings Regiment in January 1996. Each garrison also includes minor units from non-infantry arms and services.