§ Mr. DoddsTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many soldiers are based in Northern Ireland; and from what regiments. [102315]
§ Mr. IngramThe number of Army personnel, under the command of the General Officer Commanding Northern Ireland (GOC NI), and stationed in Northern Ireland on 18 February 2003 is 12,566.
The GOC NI also has under his command troops who are based in Great Britain but who can be called to the Province as and when required.
Apart from 25 Engineer Regiment, the Northern Ireland Combat Service Support Regiment, 15 Signal Regiment, six Regiment Royal Military Police, five Regiment Army Air Corp and the three Home Service battalions of the Royal Irish Regiment, which are permanently based in Northern Ireland, the following resident battalions are currently based there on accompanied tours of roughly two years:
- 1st Battalion Coldstream Guards
- 1st Battalion The Devonshire and Dorset Regiment
- 1st Battalion The Prince of Wales's Own Royal Regiment of Yorkshire
- 1st Battalion The Green Howards (Alexandra, Princess of Wales's Own Yorkshire Regiment)
- 1st Battalion The Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders (Princess Louise's)