§ Patrick MercerTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) whether Private Kitulagoda of the Rifle Volunteers was a member of the Civil Contingencies Reaction Force; [153051]
(2) how many members of the Rifle Volunteers who are currently deployed to Afghanistan are members of the Civil Contingencies Reaction Force. [153052]
§ Mr. IngramPrivate Kitulagoda, of the Rifle Volunteers, who was sadly killed on 28 January 2004 while on duty in Afghanistan, was a member of the Civil Contingency Reaction Force.
All members of the Rifle Volunteers are part of the 43 (Wessex) Brigade Civil Contingency Reaction Force, and 46 members of the unit are currently deployed in Afghanistan.
1045WDespite the absence of these individuals on operations we retain the necessary capability for the CCRFs to meet any role required of them.