asked the Secretary of State for Defence how many serving soldiers in the British Army are serving in their capacity as bandsmen; and if he will list the musical instruments they play.

The total established strength of the 78 bands in the Regular Army is 23 officers and 2,794 soldiers. These figures include one officer and 41 members of the WRAC Band, and one officer and 59 Gurkha soldiers in the Staff Band of the Brigade of Gurkhas. The main instruments played are as follows: flute and piccolo; E flat clarinet; oboe; B flat clarinet; E flat alto saxophone; B flat tenor saxophone; bassoon; horn; B flat cornet; tenor trombone; bass trombone; euphonium; bass; percussion.