News Release

30th November 2004

FUTURE OF STAFFORDSHIRE REGIMENT

Michael Fabricant quizzed the Secretary of State for Defence, Geoff Hoon, on the future of the Staffordshire Regiment in the Commons Chamber yesterday afternoon (29th November) and received no clear answer. "This uncertainty cannot be doing much for the morale of soldiers in the Staffordshire Regiment" says Michael Fabricant. "As long as their future remains uncertain, it is bound to affect their attitude. Geoff Hoon did nothing to allay their fears yesterday, and I am very disappointed with his response he gave to me and to the Staffords."

In the Chamber, Michael formally asked the Secretary of State for Defence: "If he will make a statement on the future of the Staffordshire Regiment."

Geoff Hoon replied: "As I announced in July, the reduction in the number of forces committed to Northern Ireland means that the overall requirement for infantry battalions can be reduced by four. This reduction will comprise one battalion from Scotland and three from England. The posts saved will be reinvested in strengthening the establishment of the remaining infantry battalions and providing additional logistic, engineer and intelligence personnel, who are needed to sustain our expeditionary capability.

"In addition, the decision to phase out the infantry arms plot, which uproots Army families every few years, means that a new infantry structure is required. This new structure will seek to preserve the best elements of the regimental system while adapting to ensure operational success for the future. The new structure will be based on large regiments of two or more battalions."

But Michael Fabricant then said: "That is the most generic answer I have ever heard, Mr Speaker. I asked specifically about the Staffordshire Regiment, and not once was it referred to in the answer. Will the Secretary of State now say what the future of the Staffordshire Regiment, as he was asked to do formally on the Order Paper?

"Is he aware that next year will be the 300th anniversary of the founding of the Staffordshire Regiment? Will that be a celebration or a wake? Is he aware that the recruiting record of the Staffordshire Regiment is second to none? When exactly will it know its future? Will it keep its own identity? The morale of the regiment, like that of so many other regiments, is at risk when such uncertainty continues."