§ 11. Mr. BrazierTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence what percentage of personnel in the(a) infantry, (b) Royal Armoured Corps and (c) Royal Engineers are currently engaged in, or working up for, unaccompanied tours. [90209]
§ Mr. Doug HendersonTwenty eight per cent. of the Infantry, 47 per cent. of the RAC and 67 per cent. of the Royal Engineers are currently engaged in, or working up for, unaccompanied tours. In view of the current level of commitment of the Royal Engineers, I have decided that our plans to create a fifth engineer logistic squadron following the Strategic Defence Review, should be brought forward two years from 2002 to 2000. This enhancement to the Royal Engineers will be achieved by establishing a second Queen's Gurkha Engineer Squadron to be based at Invicta Barracks, Maidstone. The nucleus of the new squadron will be formed immediately and the squadron will be available for operational tasking towards the end of next year.