§ Mr. WrayTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the military presence is on each(a) British Overseas Territory and (b) Sovereign Base; and what plans there are to change that presence in each case. [44033]
§ Mr. IngramThere is no permanent military presence on Anguilla, British Virgin Islands, Cayman Islands, Montserrat, Pitcairn Islands, St. Helena, Tristan da Cunha, South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands, or the Turks and Caicos Islands.
The military presence on the Falkland Islands comprises: Joint Headquarters and support elements; offshore patrol vessel; Roulement Infantry Company; one Tornado F3 flight; one VC10 tanker; one C-130 Hercules; Rapier Squadron; one helicopter squadron (Sea King and Chinook); air support services.
The military presence on Gibraltar comprises: Joint Headquarters and support elements; two coastal patrol vessels; RAF Gibraltar; Royal Gibraltar Regiment.
The British Indian Ocean Territory has a naval party of approximately 40 personnel. There are approximately 25 service personnel on Ascension Island, with support provided by a civilian Multi-Activity Contract. A small number of service personnel are on loan or secondment in Bermuda and British Antarctic Territory.
The military presence on the Sovereign Base Areas in Cyprus comprises: Joint Headquarters; signals units and Cyprus Joint Support Unit; two Sovereign Base Area HQs; two Resident Infantry Battalions; one Engineer Squadron; one Gazelle helicopter Flight; Port and Maritime elements; RAF Regiment personnel; one Wessex Squadron; RAF Akrotiri.
Helicopter operations on Cyprus will be transferred to a Commercially Owned, Military Registered arrangement next year.
There are no current plans to make significant changes to the military presence in other areas, but all commitments are subject to periodic review to meet changing requirements.