Royal Irish Regiment

Mr. Donaldson
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many applications for an extension to service beyond the age of 55 with the Home Service Battalions of the Royal Irish Regiment were (a) approved and (b) rejected in (i) 2005, (ii) 2006 and (iii) 2007.

Mr. Kevan Jones
[holding answer 8 March 2010]: The number of approved applications to extend service beyond the age of 55 with the Home Service Battalions of the Royal Irish Regiment in each of the specified years was as follows:

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|                                                                                                   |Number of approved applications|
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|2005                                                                                               |5                              |
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|2006                                                                                               |15                             |
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|2007                                                                                               |1—                             |
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|1 Denotes fewer than five but more than zeroNote:All figures have been rounded to the nearest five.|                               |
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Since the disbandment of the Home Service Battalions of the Royal Irish Regiment, the number of rejected applications is no longer held.