§ The Earl of Mar and Kellieasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether they have any plans to reduce the size of the Royal Air Force Regiment.
§ The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Ministry of Defence (Lord Henley)There are five RAF Regiment field squadrons (including the Queen's Colour Squadron), five RAF Regiment Rapier-equipped squadrons and five Royal Auxiliary Air Force Regiment squadrons providing ground and air defence of RAF stations. Current plans retain all of these squadrons.
Following US decisions on USAF restructuring, they no longer require the RAF Regiment to man three squadrons of US Rapier units in the UK. These squadrons are consequently disbanding by the end of March. The decision has no effect on UK defence requirements.