Welsh Regiments and Battalions (Hansard, 2 February 2004)

§ Mr. Wiggin
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the average number of days' leave soldiers in Welsh battalions have had in each year since 1997. [151742]

§ Mr. Ingram
The information requested is not held centrally, and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
The annual leave entitlement for all Army personnel currently stands at 30 working days per year.

§ Mr. Wiggin
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many soldiers from Welsh battalions were involved in covering for firefighters during Fire Brigades Union strikes since 1997; and on how many days soldiers from Welsh battalions were involved in covering for firefighters. [151743]
754W

§ Mr. Ingram
Approximately 1,500 soldiers from Welsh Battalions have been involved in covering for firefighters during Fire Brigades Union strikes since 1997. This was over a cumulative period of about 15 days, all of which were during the 2002–03 strike.

§ Mr. Wiggin
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the authorised strength is of each Welsh regiment; and how many vacancies there are in each. [151744]

§ Mr. Caplin
The current figures for the establishment and strength of the Welsh Regiments, as at 1 December 2003, are included in the following table:

Regiment Unit Establishment Unit Strength

1^st Battalion, The Queen's Dragoon Guards 454 460

1^st Battalion, The Royal Regiment of Wales 741 680

1^st Battalion, Welsh Guards 618 630

1^st Battalion, The Royal Welch Fusiliers. 668 650

Regiment	Unit Establishment	Unit Strength
1^st Battalion, The Queen's Dragoon Guards	454	460
1^st Battalion, The Royal Regiment of Wales	741	680
1^st Battalion, Welsh Guards	618	630
1^st Battalion, The Royal Welch Fusiliers.	668	650