§ Mr. Bob RussellTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many military bands each of the armed services had in(a) May 1979 and (b) May 1997; how many each has at the present time; and what proposals he has to alter the number. [57174]
§ Mr. Doug HendersonThe number of bands of the Armed Forces, in each of the years specified, is as follows:
170W
May 1979 May 1997 October 1998 Royal Navy 9 5 5 Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve 0 0 0 Army 179 30 30
May 1979 May 1997 October 1998 Territorial Army 24 24 24 Royal Air Force 5 4 3 Royal Auxiliary Air Force 0 0 0 1 This figure is based on a study undertaken in 1981, but is believed to be representative of the number of bands which existed in May 1979. We have no plans to alter the present number of regular Service bands.