Written question asked by Lord Campbell of Pittenweem (Liberal Democrat) on Thursday, 24 June 1999, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Tuesday, 13 July 1999. It was answered by Doug Henderson (Labour) on Tuesday, 13 July 1999 on behalf of the Ministry of Defence.

Ministry of Defence

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many members of the Army committed to operations in Northern Ireland were under 18 years of age on 23rd June; and in which units. - Inc table (holding answer 30 June 1999).

Answer: Mr. Menzies Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many members of the Army committed to operations in Northern Ireland were under 18 years of age on 23 June; and in which units. [89041] Mr. Doug Henderson: [holding answer 30 June 1999]: A total of 28 UK Trained Army Personnel under the age of 18 years were serving in Northern Ireland as at 1 June 1999, the latest date for which information is held centrally. A breakdown by individual regiments is shown in the table. _________________________________________________________________________________________________. Regiment/Unit Number Guards 5 Scots Guards 2 1 Black Watch 2 Royal Regiment Fusiliers 1 Royal Anglian Regiment 3 Green Howards 1 Royal Irish (General Service) 7 Queen's Lancastrian Regiment 3 Royal Welch Fusiliers 1 Light Infantry 2 Royal Logistics Corps 1 Total 28 _________________________________________________________________________________________________. Age is taken into account in selecting the types of duty in which under 18s can be employed. The Army does not, as a general rule, currently deploy those under 17 1/4 who are usually involved in initial training. The minimum ages currently applied for deployment on active service in Northern Ireland are 18 years for an Emergency Tour, and 17 1/2 for Resident Units where they are confined to duties within the Barracks only.

Secondary information