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Armed Forces: Bands

My right honourable friend the Minister of State for the Armed Forces (Adam Ingram) has made the following Written Ministerial Statement. As part of our work on the future Army structure (FAS), the previous Secretary of State for Defence announced on 16 December 2004 (Official Report, Commons, cols. 1795-1800) that there would be a reduction in the number of Royal Armoured Corps and infantry bands within the Army, and that the band of the Light Division would be reduced by 14 posts, bringing it into line with the rest of the line infantry. We are now in a position to announce more detail. The reduction in the number of bands in the Infantry and Royal Armoured Corps will be achieved in the following manner: Royal Armoured Corps (RAC) Bands The following RAC band amalgamations will take place in 2006: The Band of the Hussars and Light Dragoons will amalgamate with the Band of the Royal Lancers to form the Light Cavalry Band. The Band of the Dragoon Guards will amalgamate with the Royal Tank Regiment Cambrai Band to form the Heavy Cavalry and Cambrai Band. Infantry The following infantry band amalgamations will take place in 2006: Scottish Division: The Highland Band will amalgamate with the Lowland Band to form the Regimental Band of The Royal Regiment of Scotland. Queen's Division: The Minden Band will amalgamate with the Normandy Band of the Queen's Division to form the Minden Band of The Queen's Division. King's Division: The Waterloo Band will amalgamate with the Normandy Band of the King's Division to form the Band of the King's Division. Prince of Wales's Division: The Clive Band will amalgamate with the Lucknow Band to form the Band of the Prince of Wales's Division. In addition, The Band of the Royal Irish Regiment will be disbanded by 31 March 2008. Each line infantry regiment will then be supported by the band that is affiliated to the division of line infantry to which the regiment belongs. The Territorial Army Band in Northern Ireland will be renamed The Royal Irish Regiment Band (TA) and its performance capacity will be enhanced to ensure continued provision of military music in Northern Ireland, in combination with programmed visits by regular Army bands based in Great Britain. The restructuring of the bands will be achieved without any redundancies amongst bandsmen. Those serving in bands that are to be amalgamated or disbanded will be posted to the remaining bands. However, although members of the existing Territorial Army Band in Northern Ireland will take priority, should there be vacancies in the Royal Irish Regiment Band (TA) when it is formed, members of the Band of The Royal Irish Regiment and other regular army musicians will be able to leave the regular Army and join it if they wish.