Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the Answer of 15 November 2016 to Question 52406 and with reference to the speech delivered by the Secretary of State for Defence on 15 April 2014 at Thales, whether it is still his Department's policy to base 12,500 regular armed forces personnel in Scotland by 2020.

The Department is continuing to work towards the commitment to base 12,500 Regular Armed Forces personnel in Scotland by 2020. As at 1 October 2016, some 10,170 Regulars were based in Scotland, and as of 1 April 2016 there were approximately 3,980 Reserves. That number will increase, although fluctuations are to be expected as the Armed Forces make the necessary changes and unit moves in order to deliver the future Defence programme.