§ Mr. Gerald HowarthTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence which military bands will be attending commemorations for the 60th Anniversary of the Normandy Landings; of these bands, how many are being funded by(a) his Department and (b) other sources; and at which venues they each will be performing. [160248]
§ Mr. CaplinMusical support will be provided by six bands, those of the Royal Marines (Scotland), the Normandy Band of the King's Division, the Royal Irish Regiment, the Parachute Regiment, the Army Air Corps and the Rifle Volunteers (Devon and Dorset). All are being funded by the Ministry of Defence: two centrally and four by unit budgets.
Currently there are 18 separate events which will be supported by one or more bands. The main events for each band are as follows:
Royal Marines—British Memorial Garden Reception afloat at Ouistreham on 4 June, tree-planting ceremony at Ouistreham on 5 June.944WKing's Division — veterans' homage to Field Marshal Montgomery at Colleville-Montgomery on 5 June, inauguration of the British Memorial Garden and Beating Retreat at Caen on 5 June, Binational Ceremony at Bayeux on 6 June, International Parade at Arromanches on 6 June (or Royal Irish Regiment), final parade of the Normandy Veterans Association at Arromanches on 6 June.Royal Irish Regiment—inauguration of the British Memorial Garden and Beating Retreat at Caen on 5 June, International Parade at Arromanches on 6 June (or King's Division), final parade of the Normandy Veterans Association at Arromanches on 6 June.Parachute Regiment—veterans of 3 Parachute Brigade event at Le Mesnil on 5 June.Army Air Corps—inauguration of the HORSA glider at Ranville on 5 June, Remembrance Ceremony at Hermanville on 6 June.Rifle Volunteers—Royal British Legion service at Bayeux Cathedral on 6 June, 231 Brigade commemoration at Asnelles on 6 June.It is also expected that most of the bands will participate in the International Tattoo in Caen on the evening of 6 June, but the programme has yet to be finalised.