§ Mrs. EwingTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is the (i) establishment and (ii) current strength of each of the regular Scottish infantry battalions; and if he will list each element of company strength or above currently serving in them. [62542]
§ Mr. Spellar[holding answer 8 December 1998]: The establishment and current strength of each of the six regular Scottish Infantry Battalions, as at 1 November, is as listed. The strength figures for individual companies within these Battalions is dependent, at any one time, on the operational or training needs of the Battalion. The individual company figures are, therefore, a snapshot of strength on 10 December 1998. The Battalion strength figures include personnel who bear the Battation's cap badge but are posted away from it.
Battalion Figures Battalion Establishment Strength Surplus/Deficit 1 Royal Scots Officers 35 31 -4 Soldiers 582 394 -188 1 Royal Highland Fusiliers Officers 34 33 -1 Soldiers 626 487 -139 1 Kings Own Scottish Borderers Officers 31 32 +1 Soldiers 520 439 -81 1 Black Watch Officers 31 25 -6 Soldiers 523 440 -83 1 Highlanders Officers 32 33 +1 Soldiers 583 438 -145 1 Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders Officers 31 32 +1 Soldiers 558 518 -40 Total 3,586 2.902 -684 655W
Company Figures Unit Officer strength Soldier strength 1 Royal Scots HQ Coy 9 112 A Coy 6 92 B Coy 6 Manned by Gurkhas C Coy 5 96 Recce Coy 4 71 1 Royal Highland Fusiliers HQ Coy 12 98 A Coy 4 84 B Coy 4 78 C Coy 4 81 Sp Coy 6 145
Company Figures Unit Officer strength Soldier strength 1 Kings Own Scottish Borderers HQ Coy 12 115 A Coy 5 81 B Coy 5 81 C Coy 5 78 Sp Coy 5 112 1 Black Watch HQ Coy 9 117 A Coy 3 71 B Coy 4 83 C Coy 4 78 Sp Coy 4 90 1 Highlanders HQ Coy 12 122 A Coy 4 59 B Coy 3 48 C Coy 4 55 Sp Coy 7 137 1 Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders HQ Coy 12 177 A Coy 5 85 B Coy 5 81 C Coy 5 84 Sp Coy 5 77 Note:
The Company figures include only those serving with that particular company on 10 December 1998 and may include personnel from other units.