Earl Attleeasked Her Majesty's Government:
What changes were made to the number of armoured infantry battalions under the Strategic Defence Review; and [HL1988]
What was the establishment for Warrior infantry fighting vehicles (all variants) for an armoured infantry battalion both before and after implementation of the Strategic Defence Review; and [HL1990]
What was the establishment of Warrior infantry fighting vehicles (all variants) before and after implementation of the Strategic Defence Review. [HL1989]
§ Lord GilbertThe number of armoured infantry battalions was increased from eight to nine by the Strategic Defence Review. The overall establishment of Warrior infantry fighting vehicles, all variants, was 744. The wartime establishment for each armoured infantry battalion was 56 before the review and is unchanged. The Army is undertaking a study of the application of whole fleet management techniques which will determine how many vehicles are to be held in units in peacetime, although this will not affect wartime establishments.
Earl Attleeasked Her Majesty's Government:
Assuming that an armoured infantry battalion is deployed to both Bosnia and the operation related to the situation in Kosovo, what will be the interval between the end of one post-operational leave period and the start of intensive training for the next operation, for an armoured infantry battalion. [HL1991]
§ Lord GilbertThe interval would depend on the circumstances of the individual unit and the overall level of commitment.