Written question asked by James Gray (Conservative) on Tuesday, 11 January 2005, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Wednesday, 26 January 2005. It was answered by Adam Ingram (Labour) on Wednesday, 26 January 2005 on behalf of the Ministry of Defence.

Ministry of Defence

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, by what means he communicated his decision to disband the Royal Gloucestershire, Berkshire and Wiltshire Regiment to serving officers and men.

Answer: Mr. Gray: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence by what means he communicated his decision to disband the Royal Gloucestershire, Berkshire and Wiltshire Regiment to serving officers and men. [208829] Dr. Murrison: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what steps were taken to inform members of the Royal Gloucestershire, Berkshire and Wiltshire Regiment that they would be disbanded in advance of the commanding officer's televised announcement. [209193] Mr. Ingram: As the professional head of the Army, the Chief of the General Staff had responsibility for communicating the decision to disband the Royal Gloucestershire, Berkshire and Wiltshire Regiment down the chain of command. On the morning of the announcement, the Chief of the General Staff personally telephoned the Colonel Commandant of the Prince of Wales's Division and, in this instance, also the Colonel of the Royal Gloucestershire, Berkshire and Wiltshire Regiment to inform them of the decision and pending announcement. This was then relayed to the rest of the regiment by the Regiment's Commanding Officer.

Secondary information