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Iraq: Roulement

My right honourable friend the Secretary of State for Defence (Dr John Reid) has made the following Written Ministerial Statement. The United Kingdom keeps under constant review, in consultation with coalition partners, the troop numbers required to assist the Iraqi security forces (ISF) in Multi-National Division South-East. We continue to work with the ISF, with training, mentoring and an equipment and infrastructure programme towards the conditions for formal transfer of security responsibilities. Until those conditions are achieved, it is important that we retain the operational flexibility to respond to any change in the security environment, and ensure that this important programme with the ISF is not disrupted. To ensure that this remains the case, the General Officer Commanding (SE) needs to retain forces to provide security along our principal lines of communication. At present the 1st Battalion, The Royal Irish Regiment provides the capability, and will be replaced in January 2006 by the 1st Battalion, The Royal Scots Regiment (IRS).