Written question asked by Lord Beamish (Labour) on Friday, 5 January 2024, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Tuesday, 9 January 2024. It was answered by Andrew Murrison (Conservative) on Monday, 15 January 2024 on behalf of the Ministry of Defence.

Army: Military Bands

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many Army bands there were on 31 December (a) 1999, (b) 2009, (c) 2019 and (d) 2023.

Answer

There were 30 Bands in the British Army on 31 December 1999; 23 Bands on 31 December 2009; and 15 Bands on 31 December 2019 and 31 December 2023.

The below table shows a list of Army Bands as at 31 December 2023.

The Royal Corps of Army Music

The Band of the Household Cavalry

Band of the Grenadier Guards

Band of the Coldstream Guards

Band of the Scots Guards

Band of the Irish Guards

Band of the Welsh Guards

The Countess of Wessex’s String Orchestra

The Band of The Royal Regiment of Scotland

The Band and Bugles of The Rifles

The Band of The Prince of Wales

The Band of The Brigade of Gurkhas

British Army Band Catterick

British Army Band Colchester

British Army Band Sandhurst

British Army Band Tidworth

Secondary information