§ Mr. LawsTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence on what date his Department completed(a) the formation 1138W of 1 Joint Force Logistic Component HQ and (b) the establishment of a regular ambulance regiment; and if he will make a statement. [69099]
§ Mr. IngramThe Joint Force Logistic Component Headquarters is a capability that is formed as required. It is based on the core capability of a Logistic Brigade Headquarters enhanced by a Logistics Brigade Signal Squadron, other signals assets and augmentation from the other two Services. The first Joint Force Logistic Component HQ was able to be formed from April 2000, and we will have the capability to form a second such HQ from April 2003.
The capability which would have been provided by a regular Ambulance Regiment has been created within the Strategic Defence Review endorsed Medical Regiment Concept. This has been achieved by the creation of evacuation squadrons in each of the four medical regiments formed. These evacuation squadrons were fully formed by March 2001. Embedding the evacuation capability within each regiment, rather than creating a discrete capability, has enhanced our ability to deliver the ambulance and evacuation function.