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Written question asked by Lord Hodgson of Astley Abbotts (Conservative), in the House of Lords. It was answered by Lord Drayson (Labour) on Tuesday, 26 June 2007.


Afghanistan: Armed Forces

Question
asked Her Majesty's Government:What proportion of British troops currently serving in Afghanistan did not have the expected two-year interval between such tours of duty.
Answer

It is not possible to calculate the tour intervals experienced by individual troops currently serving in Afghanistan as specific tour interval data are collated at unit level only. Details of tour intervals for the formed units currently deployed in Afghanistan (as announced on 1 February 2007, (Official Report, col, 20WS refers) are provided in the tables below: Army Units The Army's harmony guidelines recommend a tour interval of 24 months between each six-month operational tour for Army battalions.

Unit Deployed in Afghanistan Unit Tour Interval (months)
1st Battalion The Royal Anglian Regiment 17
1st Battalion Grenadier Guards 8
The Light Dragoons 17
19 Regiment Royal Artillery 17
1st Battalion The Worcestershire and Sherwood Foresters (2 MERCIAN) 23
26 Engineer Regiment 17
2 Signal Regiment Royal Signals 46
1st Battalion The Royal Welsh¹ 15
4 Logistic Support Regiment Royal Logistic Corps¹ N/A
4 General Support Medical Regiment Royal Army Medical Corps N/A
4 Battalion Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers² N/A
Note
1. 1Bn The Royal Welsh are Theatre Reserve Battalion based in Cyprus. Currently they have one sub-unit deployed in Afghanistan.
2. Due to the movement of personnel between formed units (trickle posting) within the Logistics Corps, the Royal Medical Corps and the Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers, it is not representative to monitor Unit Tour Intervals.

Royal Air Force Units: The Royal Air Force harmony guidelines state that formed units should spend four months on deployed operations followed by 16 months at base. RAF formed units currently deployed in Afghanistan that have not had the recommended interval between operational tours are:

Unit Deployed in Afghanistan Unit Tour Interval (months)
5 RAF Force Protection Wing HQ 11
51 Squadron RAF Field Regiment 11

Elements of other regiments/units/squadrons currently deployed in Afghanistan may also not have had the recommended tour interval but are not listed as tour interval data are not collated at sub-unit level or below.


Secondary information

Type
Written question
Reference
4114; 693 c123-4WA
Session
2006-07
Related items
Army: Tour Intervals
Tuesday, 24 July 2007
Written questions
House of Lords
Afghanistan: Roulement
Thursday, 1 February 2007
Written statements
House of Lords
Subjects
Armed forces Deployment Peacekeeping operations Afghanistan
Contains statistics
Yes
Link
View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk