Written question asked by Bernard Jenkin (Conservative) on Wednesday, 5 November 2003, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Thursday, 20 November 2003. It was answered by Adam Ingram (Labour) on Thursday, 20 November 2003 on behalf of the Ministry of Defence.

Ministry of Defence

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what the present average tour interval is for infantry regiments in the Army. - (Holding answer 10 November 2003).

Answer: Mr. Jenkin: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what the present average tour interval is for infantry regiments in the Army. [137727] Mr. Ingram: [holding answer 10 November 2003]: The Army's Harmony guidelines recommend a tour interval of 24 months between each six month operational tour for Army battalions, which equates to one tour in each 30 month period. Between first May 2001 and 31 October 2003 infantry battalions undertook an average of about 1.3 tours. This is primarily the result of the Army's commitments on Operation Telic in Iraq and we therefore expect the situation to improve as commitments reduce.

Secondary information