HC Deb 07 September 2004 vol 424 cc1183-4W
Mr. George Osborne

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the future of the Cheshire Regiment. [186425]

Mr. Ingram

As my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Defence (Mr. Hoon announced on 21 July 2004,Official Report, columns 343–70, the reduction in the number of battalions committed to Northern Ireland, means that the overall requirement for infantry battalions can be reduced by four. This reduction will comprise of one battalion recruited from Scotland and three recruited from England.

Together with the phasing out of the Infantry Arms Plot, a new infantry structure is required. This will seek to preserve the best elements of the regimental system while adapting to ensure operational success for the future. The new structure will be based on large single-cap badge regiments of two or more battalions. Details of the new organisation will be worked through by the Army and announced by the end of the year.

Mr. George Osborne

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the tours of duty undertaken by the Cheshire Regiment in the last 25 years. [186426]

Mr. Ingram

The tours of duty and operational tours undertaken by 1st Battalion. The Cheshire Regiment, since 1980. are as follows:

Date Primary

Location

 Operational

Tours

 Comment
1980–82 UK (Tidworth) Belize
1982–84 Northern As resident Northern
Ireland Ireland Battalion (an
(Ballykelly) accompanied tour)
1984–86 Hong Kong
1986–88 UK (Catterhana) Belize
1988–91 UK (Chester) Northern
Ireland
(Armagh)
1991–94 Germany Yugoslavia
(Fallingbostel)
1994–96 UK (Cakington) Northern
Ireland
(Fermanagh
1996–98 Northern As resident Northern
Ireland Ireland Battalion
(Ballykelly)
1998–2000 UK (Chepstow) Northern Eight week tour
Ireland
2000–02 Cyprus Falkland Islands Coy only deployed
2002–05 UK (Bulford) Northern Unit returns from Iraq
Ireland in November 2004
(Dungannon)
Iraq