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Royal Irish Regiment (Home Service)

I echo other Members in paying tribute to the Home Service battalions and to the Ulster Defence Regiment. They did a difficult job very bravely in tough circumstances. I shall ask the Defence Minister a defence-related question. Given the pressure on the regular and Territorial Army and the problems of overstretch, particularly in the infantry, did Ministers consider attempting to re-role these three battalions either as regular soldiers or as Territorial Army battalions, which have traditionally never been involved in the security situation in Northern Ireland? That would have allowed them to continue as formed units and make an active contribution to the defence of the realm. At a time when we have lost far too many infantry battalions, why are we now prepared to stand by and lose three more? It seems to make no sense.