Three Scots regiments are under strength

Published on Monday 9 November 2009 23:34

THREE Scottish regiments that have been deployed to Iraq and Afghanistan are severely under strength

New Ministry of Defence figures show that the Royal Regiment of Scotland and the Royal Scots Dragoon Guards are both 13 per cent under-manned, while the Scots Guards are 12 per cent behind.

The gap reflects the number of trained personnel required versus the actual number of troops fit for duty.

Figures obtained by the SNP's Westminster leader, Angus Robertson MP, came just days after the Black Watch returned from a tour in Afghanistan. The Scots Guards are due to be deployed there in the spring.

The figures, issued by armed forces minister Bill Rammell, show that the Royal Regiment of Scotland had a requirement of 3,320 troops but that just 2,806 were fit for duty. The Royal Scots Dragoon Guards requires 589 troops, but those fit for duty number 510. The Scots Guards had 664 troops fit for duty against a requirement of 753.

Mr Robertson said: "Military units have a set trained requirement for a reason and it is not good that Scotland's three recruited infantry and armoured regiments are 13 per cent below that requirement."