The information is taking time to collate. I will write to the hon. Member as soon as it is available.

Substantive answer from Andrew Robathan to Angus Robertson:

Further to the letter my predecessor, Sir Nick Harvey MP, sent to you on 17 August 2012 in answer to your parliamentary question of 17 July 2012 (Official Report, column 762W) about military bases, I am afraid that one of the figures quoted was inaccurate. The figure for the "Spend by Lead Front Line Command" for the South Atlantic Islands should have read £64 million, not £61 million.

Please accept my apologies for this error which I have corrected in the following table, reproduced with its original explanatory notes.

[holding answer 17 July 2012]: The Army sets recruitment targets at regimental level. Recruits are then allocated to the battalion within their chosen regiment where the demand is greatest. Priority is given to battalions preparing for operations.

The following table shows the overall manning position at April of each year of The Mercian Regiment—including establishment and recruiting performance since 2007 (figures for 2007 are not available centrally):

The recruitment target figures for 2010-11 are artificially low due to a nine-month pause in infantry training. This affected regiments differently depending on where their training slots were on the Infantry Training Centre programme during that year.

The following table shows the manning levels of the 3rd Battalion The Mercian Regiment, complete with establishment and strength as at April of each year.

To determine which five battalions to remove from the infantry order of battle as part of the wider Army 2020 structure, the Army applied a number of criteria, which were:

maintaining a regimental system which is largely regionally aligned; demographic sustainability of regiments according to projected regional supply of recruits;

proportionality of outcome, with no cap badge deletions and no regiment losing more than one battalion in a re-organisation;

balancing the whole infantry structure to maintain variety of roles and parity of opportunity of experience for officers and soldiers;

taking account of previous decisions on mergers and deletions;

historical manning performance; and

ensuring a solution that the Army would see as fair and equitable.

Based on demographic data available from the Office of National Statistics for the age cohort across the UK from which infantry recruits are drawn—and historical trends in terms of the percentage of that cohort likely to join the Army—an assessment was made of which regiments were likely to be the least sustainable in the future if they retained their current structure. This work also included a comparison of each regiment's historical outflow so the likely recruiting requirement could be determined. This showed that the Mercian Regiment were one of the regiments from whom a battalion would need to be removed if it were to be sustainable in manning terms by 2020. Selection of which battalion should be withdrawn was based largely on the fact that while the 1st and 2nd Battalions are already based in the UK, the 3rd Battalion would need to be returned from Germany incurring the cost of new barracks, which we are attempting to minimise where possible.

Service personnel will not be able to opt out of serving as security for the London 2012 Olympics.

However, as the Secretary of State for Defence, the right hon. Member for Runnymede and Weybridge (Mr Hammond), stated to the House on 12 July 2012, Official Report, columns 42-43WS, all those taking part in security for the Olympics will receive their full leave entitlement even if it has to be rescheduled, that no one is out of pocket due to cancelled personal arrangements and that all deployed personnel are appropriately supported.

There is no requirement for members of the armed forces to have their post operational tour leave (POTL) cancelled because of the requirement for additional service personnel to provide security at the Olympics. As an example, the additional 3,500 troops employed for venue security force are coming from formed units that returned from operations in April 2012—so POTL should have already been taken.

[holding answer 12 July 2012]: Against a backdrop of needing to remove five battalions from the infantry order of battle as part of the wider Army 2020 structure, a number of criteria were applied by the Army which were: maintaining a regimental system which is largely regionally aligned; demographic sustainability of regiments according to projected regional supply of recruits; proportionality of outcome, with no cap badge deletions and no regiment losing more than one battalion in a re-organisation; balancing the whole infantry structure to maintain variety of roles and parity of opportunity of experience for officers and soldiers; taking account of previous decisions on mergers and deletions; historical manning performance; and ensuring a solution that the Army would see as fair and equitable.

Based on demographic data available from the Office of National Statistics for the age cohort across the UK from which infantry recruits are drawn, and historical trends in terms of the percentage of that cohort likely to join the Army, an assessment was made of which regiments were likely to be the least sustainable in the future if they retained their current structure. This work also included a comparison of each regiment's historical outflow so the likely recruiting requirement could be determined.

The analysis showed that those regiments likely to be the least sustainable in future were the Royal Regiment of Scotland (predicted to be 1.75 battalions short), The Yorkshire Regiment (predicted to be 0.8 battalions short), The Mercian Regiment (predicted to be 0.56 battalions short) and the Royal Welsh Regiment (predicted to be 0.55 battalions short). It was therefore decided to remove one battalion from each of those regiments.

After the removal of four battalions, the method for predicting future sustainability became less statistically discerning. Therefore to determine the fifth battalion to be removed from the order of battle required the application of criteria that went wider than demographics. Historical manning performance and the need to maintain equity of opportunity meant that the Royal Regiment of Fusiliers (with average historical undermanning of 13.3% since the previous reorganisation of the infantry in 2007, and being a regiment with two battalions) was the next appropriate regiment from which to withdraw a battalion.

The analysis showed that after the withdrawal of five battalions from across the infantry, future manning should be sustainable with sufficient recruits predicted to fill the necessary posts across all battalions.

In the future Army Structure outlined under Army 2020, the allocation of roles to individual Infantry Battalions and Royal Armoured Corps Regiments is yet to be decided. It is therefore too early to provide the established strength of each of the units listed in the question.

However, when allocated, total unit strengths based on their specific role are expected to be as in the following table:

The exact establishments of the London Based Public Duties Incremental Company (PDIC) and Scottish based PDIC remain under review although current planning figures are around 90 and 140 personnel respectively.

All unit strengths include other arms attached to the units such as Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers, Royal Army Medical Corps, Adjutant General Corps (Staff and Personnel Support), Royal Logistic Corps, Royal Army Physical Training Corps and Royal Army Chaplains Department personnel.

In the future Army Structure outlined under Army 2020, the allocation of roles to individual Infantry Battalions and Royal Armoured Corps Regiments is yet to be decided. It is therefore too early to provide the established strength of each of the units listed in the question.

However, when allocated, total unit strengths based on their specific role are expected to be as in the following table:

The exact establishments of the London Based Public Duties Incremental Company (PDIC) and Scottish based PDIC remain under review although current planning figures are around 90 and 140 personnel respectively.

All unit strengths include other arms attached to the units such as Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers, Royal Army Medical Corps, Adjutant General Corps (Staff and Personnel Support), Royal Logistic Corps, Royal Army Physical Training Corps and Royal Army Chaplains Department personnel.

I refer the hon. Member to the statement made by the Secretary of State for Defence, the right hon. Member for Runnymede and Weybridge (Mr Hammond), on 5 July 2012, Official Report, column 1085, in which he said that a future structure for the Army based on reaction forces, comprising 16 Air Assault Brigade and three armoured infantry brigades, adaptable forces, comprising seven infantry brigades of varying size and force troops.

Between them these will be able to generate the same operational output as five multi-role brigades but in a more flexible way.

[holding answer 13 July 2012]: I refer the right hon. Member to the Statement made by the Secretary of State for Defence, the right hon. Member for Runnymede and Weybridge (Mr Hammond), on 5 July 2012, Official Report, columns 1087-88, in which he announced changes to a number of units that will be withdrawn, amalgamated or merged resulting in the reduction overall of 17 units.

The following table shows the total number of regular Army personnel, both officers and soldiers, employed within each of the units affected:

These figures comprise all regular Army personnel under the command of the unit's commanding officer and therefore include Army personnel from other arms and corps employed at the unit.

An individual in a unit which is being withdrawn or merged is no more or less likely than any other individual with similar skills and service record to be selected for future redundancy. When units are withdrawn from the Army's order of battle their personnel will be reassigned to other units, where possible within the same regiment.

The Army 2020 proposition offers the best solution for a combined force of 120,000 regular and reservist soldiers. It will deliver three armoured infantry brigades in the Reactive Force and seven brigades in the Adaptive Force. This force structure will be multi-role in nature and will deliver the same Defence outputs as the Army force structure envisaged in the 2010 strategic defence and security review.

The CHARM3 legal weapons review is being withheld to protect legal professional privilege, the policy-making process and relations between the United Kingdom and other states.

The review conclusion, that CHARM3 was capable of being used lawfully by UK armed forces in international armed conflict and the rationale behind it, was laid before the House in a written ministerial statement on 12 July 2012, Official Report, columns 40-41WS.

Exercise Gaulish Hackle involved two companies from 5 SCOTS in an urban training exercise at facilities in France. The exercise took place in two phases. Each phase involved 148 personnel, making a total of 296 and was part of the planned training required by the companies in their current role as part of the lead battle group for the Airborne Task Force within 16 Air Assault Brigade.

The exercise is part of a reciprocal exchange activity with the French. The estimated cost to the public purse was approximately £17,900 overall, expended on the transport of 5 SCOTS to and from France. The cost of the services provided by the French is unknown, but included items such as accommodation and food.

[holding answer 16 July 2012]: As the Secretary of State for Defence, the right hon. Member for Runnymede and Weybridge (Mr Hammond), confirmed in his written statement of 12 July 2012, Official Report, column 43WS, he agreed with the Secretary of State for the Home Department, the right hon. Member for Maidenhead (Mrs May), and the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport, the right hon. Member for South West Surrey (Mr Hunt), to deploy a further 3,500 military personnel to support venue security operations. On 24 July 2012 it was also agreed that a further 1,200 troops were to be deployed to provide resilience and flexibility in this capacity.

These personnel are conducting a number of important roles helping to secure the world's largest sporting event. These tasks include vehicle screening, pedestrian screening and perimeter security tasks which sit alongside niche military capabilities being provided by other personnel provided to the wider Olympic security effort. The precise costs of this additional deployment are currently being scoped—the House will be informed in due course. These costs will not be drawn from the Ministry of Defence (MOD)'s budget. In due course the MOD will provide the Home Office with details of the costs for reimbursement.

I can confirm that none of the units used for this task, announced on the 12 and 24 July 2012 respectively, were removed from deployments on military operations. Personnel were drawn from the following units:

The Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders (5th Battalion The Royal Regiment of Scotland)

3rd Battalion The Parachute Regiment

7th Regiment Royal Horse Artillery

13 Air Assault Support Regiment

23 Royal Regiment Engineers

Composite Units to include: 13 Medical Regiment, 216 Signals Squadron and 156 Provost Company RMP

1 The Princess of Wales Royal Regiment

5th Battalion The Rifles

35 Regiment Royal Engineer

28 Engineer regiment

1 (UK) Armoured Division Signal Regiment

Queen Dragoon Guards

Queens Royal Hussars

26th Regiment Royal Artillery

1st Battalion The Royal Regiment of Fusiliers

4th Battalion The Rifles

Household Cavalry Regiment

1st Battalion The Rifles

30 Commando Royal Marines

42 Commando Royal Marines

45 Commando Royal Marines

Commando Logistic Regiment

24 Commando Engineer Regiment

3 Force Protection Wing RAF Regiment

Queens Colour Squadron RAF Regiment

Military personnel supporting Olympic safety and security are accommodated in a range of Defence and commercial sites. Since the announcement on 12 July 2012 additional accommodation was secured at Tobacco Dock (Wapping) to accommodate the majority of these additional personnel.

[holding answer 16 July 2012]: As the Secretary of State for Defence, the right hon. Member for Runnymede and Weybridge (Mr Hammond), confirmed in his written statement of 12 July 2012, Official Report, column 43WS, he agreed with the Secretary of State for the Home Department, the right hon. Member for Maidenhead (Mrs May), and the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport, the right hon. Member for South West Surrey (Mr Hunt), to deploy a further 3,500 military personnel to support venue security operations. On 24 July 2012 it was also agreed that a further 1,200 troops were to be deployed to provide resilience and flexibility in this capacity.

These personnel are conducting a number of important roles helping to secure the world's largest sporting event. These tasks include vehicle screening, pedestrian screening and perimeter security tasks which sit alongside niche military capabilities being provided by other personnel provided to the wider Olympic security effort. The precise costs of this additional deployment are currently being scoped—the House will be informed in due course. These costs will not be drawn from the Ministry of Defence (MOD)'s budget. In due course the MOD will provide the Home Office with details of the costs for reimbursement.

I can confirm that none of the units used for this task, announced on the 12 and 24 July 2012 respectively, were removed from deployments on military operations. Personnel were drawn from the following units:

The Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders (5th Battalion The Royal Regiment of Scotland)

3rd Battalion The Parachute Regiment

7th Regiment Royal Horse Artillery

13 Air Assault Support Regiment

23 Royal Regiment Engineers

Composite Units to include: 13 Medical Regiment, 216 Signals Squadron and 156 Provost Company RMP

1 The Princess of Wales Royal Regiment

5th Battalion The Rifles

35 Regiment Royal Engineer

28 Engineer regiment

1 (UK) Armoured Division Signal Regiment

Queen Dragoon Guards

Queens Royal Hussars

26th Regiment Royal Artillery

1st Battalion The Royal Regiment of Fusiliers

4th Battalion The Rifles

Household Cavalry Regiment

1st Battalion The Rifles

30 Commando Royal Marines

42 Commando Royal Marines

45 Commando Royal Marines

Commando Logistic Regiment

24 Commando Engineer Regiment

3 Force Protection Wing RAF Regiment

Queens Colour Squadron RAF Regiment

Military personnel supporting Olympic safety and security are accommodated in a range of Defence and commercial sites. Since the announcement on 12 July 2012 additional accommodation was secured at Tobacco Dock (Wapping) to accommodate the majority of these additional personnel.

[holding answer 16 July 2012]: As the Secretary of State for Defence, the right hon. Member for Runnymede and Weybridge (Mr Hammond), confirmed in his written statement of 12 July 2012, Official Report, column 43WS, he agreed with the Secretary of State for the Home Department, the right hon. Member for Maidenhead (Mrs May), and the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport, the right hon. Member for South West Surrey (Mr Hunt), to deploy a further 3,500 military personnel to support venue security operations. On 24 July 2012 it was also agreed that a further 1,200 troops were to be deployed to provide resilience and flexibility in this capacity.

These personnel are conducting a number of important roles helping to secure the world's largest sporting event. These tasks include vehicle screening, pedestrian screening and perimeter security tasks which sit alongside niche military capabilities being provided by other personnel provided to the wider Olympic security effort. The precise costs of this additional deployment are currently being scoped—the House will be informed in due course. These costs will not be drawn from the Ministry of Defence (MOD)'s budget. In due course the MOD will provide the Home Office with details of the costs for reimbursement.

I can confirm that none of the units used for this task, announced on the 12 and 24 July 2012 respectively, were removed from deployments on military operations. Personnel were drawn from the following units:

The Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders (5th Battalion The Royal Regiment of Scotland)

3rd Battalion The Parachute Regiment

7th Regiment Royal Horse Artillery

13 Air Assault Support Regiment

23 Royal Regiment Engineers

Composite Units to include: 13 Medical Regiment, 216 Signals Squadron and 156 Provost Company RMP

1 The Princess of Wales Royal Regiment

5th Battalion The Rifles

35 Regiment Royal Engineer

28 Engineer regiment

1 (UK) Armoured Division Signal Regiment

Queen Dragoon Guards

Queens Royal Hussars

26th Regiment Royal Artillery

1st Battalion The Royal Regiment of Fusiliers

4th Battalion The Rifles

Household Cavalry Regiment

1st Battalion The Rifles

30 Commando Royal Marines

42 Commando Royal Marines

45 Commando Royal Marines

Commando Logistic Regiment

24 Commando Engineer Regiment

3 Force Protection Wing RAF Regiment

Queens Colour Squadron RAF Regiment

Military personnel supporting Olympic safety and security are accommodated in a range of Defence and commercial sites. Since the announcement on 12 July 2012 additional accommodation was secured at Tobacco Dock (Wapping) to accommodate the majority of these additional personnel.

[holding answer 16 July 2012]: As the Secretary of State for Defence, the right hon. Member for Runnymede and Weybridge (Mr Hammond), confirmed in his written statement of 12 July 2012, Official Report, column 43WS, he agreed with the Secretary of State for the Home Department, the right hon. Member for Maidenhead (Mrs May), and the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport, the right hon. Member for South West Surrey (Mr Hunt), to deploy a further 3,500 military personnel to support venue security operations. On 24 July 2012 it was also agreed that a further 1,200 troops were to be deployed to provide resilience and flexibility in this capacity.

These personnel are conducting a number of important roles helping to secure the world's largest sporting event. These tasks include vehicle screening, pedestrian screening and perimeter security tasks which sit alongside niche military capabilities being provided by other personnel provided to the wider Olympic security effort. The precise costs of this additional deployment are currently being scoped—the House will be informed in due course. These costs will not be drawn from the Ministry of Defence (MOD)'s budget. In due course the MOD will provide the Home Office with details of the costs for reimbursement.

I can confirm that none of the units used for this task, announced on the 12 and 24 July 2012 respectively, were removed from deployments on military operations. Personnel were drawn from the following units:

The Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders (5th Battalion The Royal Regiment of Scotland)

3rd Battalion The Parachute Regiment

7th Regiment Royal Horse Artillery

13 Air Assault Support Regiment

23 Royal Regiment Engineers

Composite Units to include: 13 Medical Regiment, 216 Signals Squadron and 156 Provost Company RMP

1 The Princess of Wales Royal Regiment

5th Battalion The Rifles

35 Regiment Royal Engineer

28 Engineer regiment

1 (UK) Armoured Division Signal Regiment

Queen Dragoon Guards

Queens Royal Hussars

26th Regiment Royal Artillery

1st Battalion The Royal Regiment of Fusiliers

4th Battalion The Rifles

Household Cavalry Regiment

1st Battalion The Rifles

30 Commando Royal Marines

42 Commando Royal Marines

45 Commando Royal Marines

Commando Logistic Regiment

24 Commando Engineer Regiment

3 Force Protection Wing RAF Regiment

Queens Colour Squadron RAF Regiment

Military personnel supporting Olympic safety and security are accommodated in a range of Defence and commercial sites. Since the announcement on 12 July 2012 additional accommodation was secured at Tobacco Dock (Wapping) to accommodate the majority of these additional personnel.

[holding answer 16 July 2012]: As the Secretary of State for Defence, the right hon. Member for Runnymede and Weybridge (Mr Hammond), confirmed in his written statement of 12 July 2012, Official Report, column 43WS, he agreed with the Secretary of State for the Home Department, the right hon. Member for Maidenhead (Mrs May), and the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport, the right hon. Member for South West Surrey (Mr Hunt), to deploy a further 3,500 military personnel to support venue security operations. On 24 July 2012 it was also agreed that a further 1,200 troops were to be deployed to provide resilience and flexibility in this capacity.

These personnel are conducting a number of important roles helping to secure the world's largest sporting event. These tasks include vehicle screening, pedestrian screening and perimeter security tasks which sit alongside niche military capabilities being provided by other personnel provided to the wider Olympic security effort. The precise costs of this additional deployment are currently being scoped—the House will be informed in due course. These costs will not be drawn from the Ministry of Defence (MOD)'s budget. In due course the MOD will provide the Home Office with details of the costs for reimbursement.

I can confirm that none of the units used for this task, announced on the 12 and 24 July 2012 respectively, were removed from deployments on military operations. Personnel were drawn from the following units:

The Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders (5th Battalion The Royal Regiment of Scotland)

3rd Battalion The Parachute Regiment

7th Regiment Royal Horse Artillery

13 Air Assault Support Regiment

23 Royal Regiment Engineers

Composite Units to include: 13 Medical Regiment, 216 Signals Squadron and 156 Provost Company RMP

1 The Princess of Wales Royal Regiment

5th Battalion The Rifles

35 Regiment Royal Engineer

28 Engineer regiment

1 (UK) Armoured Division Signal Regiment

Queen Dragoon Guards

Queens Royal Hussars

26th Regiment Royal Artillery

1st Battalion The Royal Regiment of Fusiliers

4th Battalion The Rifles

Household Cavalry Regiment

1st Battalion The Rifles

30 Commando Royal Marines

42 Commando Royal Marines

45 Commando Royal Marines

Commando Logistic Regiment

24 Commando Engineer Regiment

3 Force Protection Wing RAF Regiment

Queens Colour Squadron RAF Regiment

Military personnel supporting Olympic safety and security are accommodated in a range of Defence and commercial sites. Since the announcement on 12 July 2012 additional accommodation was secured at Tobacco Dock (Wapping) to accommodate the majority of these additional personnel.

[holding answer 16 July 2012]: As the Secretary of State for Defence, the right hon. Member for Runnymede and Weybridge (Mr Hammond), confirmed in his written statement of 12 July 2012, Official Report, column 43WS, he agreed with the Secretary of State for the Home Department, the right hon. Member for Maidenhead (Mrs May), and the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport, the right hon. Member for South West Surrey (Mr Hunt), to deploy a further 3,500 military personnel to support venue security operations. On 24 July 2012 it was also agreed that a further 1,200 troops were to be deployed to provide resilience and flexibility in this capacity.

These personnel are conducting a number of important roles helping to secure the world's largest sporting event. These tasks include vehicle screening, pedestrian screening and perimeter security tasks which sit alongside niche military capabilities being provided by other personnel provided to the wider Olympic security effort. The precise costs of this additional deployment are currently being scoped—the House will be informed in due course. These costs will not be drawn from the Ministry of Defence (MOD)'s budget. In due course the MOD will provide the Home Office with details of the costs for reimbursement.

I can confirm that none of the units used for this task, announced on the 12 and 24 July 2012 respectively, were removed from deployments on military operations. Personnel were drawn from the following units:

The Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders (5th Battalion The Royal Regiment of Scotland)

3rd Battalion The Parachute Regiment

7th Regiment Royal Horse Artillery

13 Air Assault Support Regiment

23 Royal Regiment Engineers

Composite Units to include: 13 Medical Regiment, 216 Signals Squadron and 156 Provost Company RMP

1 The Princess of Wales Royal Regiment

5th Battalion The Rifles

35 Regiment Royal Engineer

28 Engineer regiment

1 (UK) Armoured Division Signal Regiment

Queen Dragoon Guards

Queens Royal Hussars

26th Regiment Royal Artillery

1st Battalion The Royal Regiment of Fusiliers

4th Battalion The Rifles

Household Cavalry Regiment

1st Battalion The Rifles

30 Commando Royal Marines

42 Commando Royal Marines

45 Commando Royal Marines

Commando Logistic Regiment

24 Commando Engineer Regiment

3 Force Protection Wing RAF Regiment

Queens Colour Squadron RAF Regiment

Military personnel supporting Olympic safety and security are accommodated in a range of Defence and commercial sites. Since the announcement on 12 July 2012 additional accommodation was secured at Tobacco Dock (Wapping) to accommodate the majority of these additional personnel.

[holding answer 16 July 2012]: As the Secretary of State for Defence, the right hon. Member for Runnymede and Weybridge (Mr Hammond), confirmed in his written statement of 12 July 2012, Official Report, column 43WS, he agreed with the Secretary of State for the Home Department, the right hon. Member for Maidenhead (Mrs May), and the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport, the right hon. Member for South West Surrey (Mr Hunt), to deploy a further 3,500 military personnel to support venue security operations. On 24 July 2012 it was also agreed that a further 1,200 troops were to be deployed to provide resilience and flexibility in this capacity.

These personnel are conducting a number of important roles helping to secure the world's largest sporting event. These tasks include vehicle screening, pedestrian screening and perimeter security tasks which sit alongside niche military capabilities being provided by other personnel provided to the wider Olympic security effort. The precise costs of this additional deployment are currently being scoped—the House will be informed in due course. These costs will not be drawn from the Ministry of Defence (MOD)'s budget. In due course the MOD will provide the Home Office with details of the costs for reimbursement.

I can confirm that none of the units used for this task, announced on the 12 and 24 July 2012 respectively, were removed from deployments on military operations. Personnel were drawn from the following units:

The Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders (5th Battalion The Royal Regiment of Scotland)

3rd Battalion The Parachute Regiment

7th Regiment Royal Horse Artillery

13 Air Assault Support Regiment

23 Royal Regiment Engineers

Composite Units to include: 13 Medical Regiment, 216 Signals Squadron and 156 Provost Company RMP

1 The Princess of Wales Royal Regiment

5th Battalion The Rifles

35 Regiment Royal Engineer

28 Engineer regiment

1 (UK) Armoured Division Signal Regiment

Queen Dragoon Guards

Queens Royal Hussars

26th Regiment Royal Artillery

1st Battalion The Royal Regiment of Fusiliers

4th Battalion The Rifles

Household Cavalry Regiment

1st Battalion The Rifles

30 Commando Royal Marines

42 Commando Royal Marines

45 Commando Royal Marines

Commando Logistic Regiment

24 Commando Engineer Regiment

3 Force Protection Wing RAF Regiment

Queens Colour Squadron RAF Regiment

Military personnel supporting Olympic safety and security are accommodated in a range of Defence and commercial sites. Since the announcement on 12 July 2012 additional accommodation was secured at Tobacco Dock (Wapping) to accommodate the majority of these additional personnel.

[holding answer 16 July 2012]: As the Secretary of State for Defence, the right hon. Member for Runnymede and Weybridge (Mr Hammond), confirmed in his written statement of 12 July 2012, Official Report, column 43WS, he agreed with the Secretary of State for the Home Department, the right hon. Member for Maidenhead (Mrs May), and the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport, the right hon. Member for South West Surrey (Mr Hunt), to deploy a further 3,500 military personnel to support venue security operations. On 24 July 2012 it was also agreed that a further 1,200 troops were to be deployed to provide resilience and flexibility in this capacity.

These personnel are conducting a number of important roles helping to secure the world's largest sporting event. These tasks include vehicle screening, pedestrian screening and perimeter security tasks which sit alongside niche military capabilities being provided by other personnel provided to the wider Olympic security effort. The precise costs of this additional deployment are currently being scoped—the House will be informed in due course. These costs will not be drawn from the Ministry of Defence (MOD)'s budget. In due course the MOD will provide the Home Office with details of the costs for reimbursement.

I can confirm that none of the units used for this task, announced on the 12 and 24 July 2012 respectively, were removed from deployments on military operations. Personnel were drawn from the following units:

The Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders (5th Battalion The Royal Regiment of Scotland)

3rd Battalion The Parachute Regiment

7th Regiment Royal Horse Artillery

13 Air Assault Support Regiment

23 Royal Regiment Engineers

Composite Units to include: 13 Medical Regiment, 216 Signals Squadron and 156 Provost Company RMP

1 The Princess of Wales Royal Regiment

5th Battalion The Rifles

35 Regiment Royal Engineer

28 Engineer regiment

1 (UK) Armoured Division Signal Regiment

Queen Dragoon Guards

Queens Royal Hussars

26th Regiment Royal Artillery

1st Battalion The Royal Regiment of Fusiliers

4th Battalion The Rifles

Household Cavalry Regiment

1st Battalion The Rifles

30 Commando Royal Marines

42 Commando Royal Marines

45 Commando Royal Marines

Commando Logistic Regiment

24 Commando Engineer Regiment

3 Force Protection Wing RAF Regiment

Queens Colour Squadron RAF Regiment

Military personnel supporting Olympic safety and security are accommodated in a range of Defence and commercial sites. Since the announcement on 12 July 2012 additional accommodation was secured at Tobacco Dock (Wapping) to accommodate the majority of these additional personnel.