THE FUTURE OF THE ROYAL ANGLIAN REGIMENT AND PRINCESS OF WALES ROYAL REGIMENT

Early day motion 351, tabled 8 December 2004 by Lorna Fitzsimons (Labour). Signed by 14 members.

That this House notes with concern that the two super regiments, ie. regiments of two battalions or more, of the Royal Anglians (RA) and the Princess of Wales Royal Regiment (PWRR) face amalgamation and loss of title due to the proposal to cut one battalion from the Royal Regiment of Fusiliers (RRF); notes that this is due to all three regiments being in Queen's Division and, given that the RRF would be unsustainable as one battalion, the only way the Queen's Division could continue would be to merge all five remaining battalions; further notes that the proposal is to call one of the new super regiments of three battalions the Royal English Fusiliers, and that this would mean one of the two historic regiments of RA or PWRR losing their historic title; further notes that, given all three regiments were amalgamated, or cut, in 1970 and 1992, it would not be fair or equitable to amalgamate them again; further notes that they are all now successful two battalion regiments with no recruiting problems; and does not accept that this proposal would meet the Army Board's own success criteria.

Signatures by party: Labour 8, DUP 2, Liberal Democrat 2, Conservative 1, Labour/Co-operative 1.