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Iraq: Peacekeeping Operations

Answer

[holding answer 28 January 2008]: All units deploy at the required strength for the tasks they are asked to fulfil during their operational tour. Information on the number of troops from each unit which deployed to Iraq and Afghanistan in the last 12 months is being collated. I will write to the hon. Member when the information is available. Substantive answer from Des Browne to Andrew Murrison:"I undertook to write to you in answer to your Parliamentary Question on 29 January 2008 (Official Report, column 186W), about which units have been deployed to Iraq and Afghanistan over the last 12 months with full strength bearing and how many troops were deployed.""As my answer indicated, all units will deploy at the strength required for the tasks that they are asked to fulfil during their operational tour. The table, attached at ANNEX A, lists the main formed units which deployed to Iraq and Afghanistan from November 2006 to April 2008 and the total troop numbers which these units deployed. The equivalent information is not held for subunits, so the totals will not match the overall numbers which deployed on each roulement. As you know, it is not unusual for a roulement to be configured from elements of a number of units, each of which are contributing a small number of troops in support of the main formation. All units that are tasked to deploy on each operational tour are listed in the relevant announcement laid before Parliament.""You may also be interested in the answers given to the Hon Member for Newark, Patrick Mercer, on 7 January 2008 (Official Report, column SOW) and 16 January 2008 (Official Report, column 1247W), about peace establishment numbers for a number or regiments. I enclose copies of the Hansard extracts for ease of reference.""I am placing a copy of this letter in the Library of the House."

Annex A: Formed unit strengths deployed on recent operational tours
Telic deployments: Telic 9—November 2006 to May 2007
Unit	Unit strength
2nd Bn Lancashire Regt	455
Queens Royal Lancers	320
1st Bn Yorkshire Regt	550
2nd Bn The Rifles	703
40 Regiment Royal Artillery	298
3rd Bn Mercian Regiment	509

Telic deployments: Telic 10—June 2007 to November 2007
Unit	Unit strength
2nd Bn Royal Welsh Regiment	522
1st Bn Irish Guards	409
4th Bn The Rifles	587
1st Regt Royal Horse Artillery	388
Kings Royal Hussars	445

Herrick deployments: Herrick 5—October 2006 to April 2007
Unit	Total unit strength
42 and 45 Commando Royal Marines	2,067

Herrick deployments: Herrick 6—April 2007 to October 2007
Unit	Unit strength
1st Bn Royal Anglian Regt	583
2nd Bn Mercian Regiment	466
The Light Dragoons	190

Herrick deployments: Herrick 7—October 2007 to April 2008
Unit	Unit strength
40 Commando Royal Marines	822
Household Cavalry Regt	190
1st Bn Royal Gurkha Rifles	585
1st Bn Coldstream Guards	500
4 Regt Royal Artillery	372

Secondary information

Type

Written question

Reference

477 c851-2W; 182606

Session

2007-08

Related items

Deposited Paper DEP2008-1566
Tuesday, 17 June 2008
Deposited papers
House of Commons

Iraq: Peacekeeping Operations
Tuesday, 29 January 2008
Written questions
House of Commons

Iraq: Peacekeeping Operations
Tuesday, 17 June 2008
Written questions
House of Commons

Registered interest declared

Yes

Notes

Question originally printed on 29/01/2008 at 471 c186W.

Subjects

Iraq Peacekeeping operations Afghanistan

Link

View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk