Iraq: Peacekeeping Operations

Dr. Murrison

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence which units have been deployed to (a) Iraq and (b) Afghanistan over the last 12 months with full-strength bearing; and how many troops were deployed. (182606)

[holding answer 28 January 2008]: All units deploy at the required strength for the tasks they are asked to fulfil during their operational tour.

Information on the number of troops from each unit which deployed to Iraq and Afghanistan in the last 12 months is being collated. I will write to the hon. Member when the information is available.

Substantive answer from Des Browne to Andrew Murrison:

I undertook to write to you in answer to your Parliamentary Question on 29 January 2008 (Official Report, column 186W), about which units have been deployed to Iraq and Afghanistan over the last 12 months with full strength bearing and how many troops were deployed.

As my answer indicated, all units will deploy at the strength required for the tasks that they are asked to fulfil during their operational tour. The table, attached at ANNEX A, lists the main formed units which deployed to Iraq and Afghanistan from November 2006 to April 2008 and the total troop numbers which these units deployed. The equivalent information is not held for subunits, so the totals will not match the overall numbers which deployed on each roulement. As you know, it is not unusual for a roulement to be configured from elements of a number of units, each of which are contributing a small number of troops in support of the main formation. All units that are tasked to deploy on each operational tour are listed in the relevant announcement laid before Parliament.

You may also be interested in the answers given to the Hon Member for Newark, Patrick Mercer, on 7 January 2008 (Official Report, column 50W) and 16 January 2008 (Official Report, column 1247W), about peace establishment numbers for a number or regiments. I enclose copies of the Hansard extracts for ease of reference.

I am placing a copy of this letter in the Library of the House.

*Annex A: Formed unit strengths deployed on recent operational tours*
Telic deployments: Telic 9—November 2006 to May 2007
Unit	Unit strength
2^nd Bn Lancashire Regt	455
Queens Royal Lancers	320
1^st Bn Yorkshire Regt	550
2^nd Bn The Rifles	703
40 Regiment Royal Artillery	298
3^rd Bn Mercian Regiment	509

*Telic deployments: Telic 10—June 2007 to November 2007*
Unit	Unit strength
2^nd Bn Royal Welsh Regiment	522
1^st Bn Irish Guards	409
4^th Bn The Rifles	587
1^st Regt Royal Horse Artillery	388
Kings Royal Hussars	445

*Herrick deployments: Herrick 5—October 2006 to April 2007*
Unit	Total unit strength
42 and 45 Commando Royal Marines	2,067

*Herrick deployments: Herrick 6—April 2007 to October 2007*
Unit	Unit strength
1^st Bn Royal Anglian Regt	583
2^nd Bn Mercian Regiment	466
The Light Dragoons	190

*Herrick deployments: Herrick 7—October 2007 to April 2008*
Unit	Unit strength
40 Commando Royal Marines	822
Household Cavalry Regt	190
1^st Bn Royal Gurkha Rifles	585
1^st Bn Coldstream Guards	500
4 Regt Royal Artillery	372

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence in which vehicles British service personnel were (a) killed and (b) injured as a result of hostile action in (i) Iraq and (ii) Afghanistan in each month since operations started; and if he will make a statement. (210136)

I am withholding the details requested as disclosure would, or would be likely to prejudice the capability, effectiveness or security of the armed forces.

Volume 477: debated on Tuesday 17 June 2008