§ Mr. Keith SimpsonTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is the average interval between operational tours for (i) Infantry battalions, (ii) Royal Armoured regiments, (iii) Royal Logistical Corps units, (iv) Adjutant-General Corps units and (v) Royal Army Medical Corps units. [85914]
§ Mr. Doug Henderson[holding answer 8 June 1999]In the past three years, tour intervals (in months) for Infantry battalions, Royal Armoured regiments, Royal Logistical Corps units and Royal Army Medical Corps units have been as follows:
Arm/service 1996–97 1997–98 1998–99 Infantry 21 22 27 Royal Armoured Corps 25 19 30 Royal Logistical Corps 18 18 12 Royal Army Medical Corps — — — Field Ambulance 24 37 30 Field Hospital 12 12 12 The Adjutant General Corps deploy as individuals, rather than in units and there are therefore no recorded unit tour intervals.
For the current year (1999–2000), the interval would depend on the circumstances of the individual unit and the overall level of commitment; however, if there is a continuation of existing levels of commitment and undermanning this would be likely to result in tour intervals (in months) for 1999–2000 as follows:
Arm/service 1999–2000 Infantry 15 Royal Armoured Corps 12 Royal Logistical Corps 11 Royal Army Medical Corps Field Ambulance 20 Field Hospital 12 These statistics reflect an unprecedented level of commitment. We are actively seeking to reduce the Army's level of commitment, specifically in Bosnia, and particularly for those arms and services that are most heavily committed, with a view to reducing overstretch.