To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many military personnel have been employed in Northern Ireland in each of the last five years. [115072]

The number of Armed Forces personnel (Army, Navy and RAF), under the command of the General Officer Commanding Northern Ireland (GOC NI), deployed in Northern Ireland for the last five years is set out in the table below:

As at April	Number of Armed Forces Personnel
1999	14,850
2000	13,852
2001	13,856
2002	13,288
2003	13,188

The GOC NI also has under his command troops that are rear-based in Great Britain that can be called forward to the Province as and when required. In addition other troops can be made available to the GOC NI from Land Command if required, for example during the marching season.