§ Mr. KeyTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) what progress has been made in the establishment of the sixth close support engineer regiment; and if he will make a statement; [117494]
(2) what progress has been made in forming two new regular engineer squadrons; and if he will make a statement. [117492]
§ Mr. Spellar[holding answer 3 April 2000]: Two new engineer regiments and three new engineer squadrons are to be formed. 26 (Close Support) Engineer Regiment, has started forming and will be operational by October this year. One of its squadrons cannot, however, be formed before 2003, the date on which its accommodation is planned to become available. The Regiment is initially being formed in Horne Barracks, Larkhill, and early next year it will move into modular accommodation in Ludgershall, thereby allowing Horne Barracks to be refurbished for 19 Field Regiment RA. Its long-term location will be Swinton Barracks, Perham Down, but this is not expected to be complete until 2003 at the earliest.
23 Engineer Regiment will support 16 Air Assault Brigade and it will form up in its new location in 2003: its two constituent parts are already supporting the 146W Brigade. The Regiment cannot be formed until barrack facilities have been constructed at Woodbridge in 2003. In the interim 9 Parachute Squadron RE and 51 Air Assault Squadron will continue to support the Brigade from their current locations—Aldershot and Ripon respectively.
The engineer field support squadron is to be formed in April this year, using Gurkha manpower, and this will be operational by September. The first of the two air support engineer squadrons is currently planned to form up in July 2001, and the second in 2003.