Army: Scotland
Defence
Mark Lancaster (Milton Keynes North, Conservative)
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether recruits will be allowed to choose the infantry cap badge within the Scottish regiments that they join.
Nick Harvey (Minister of State (Armed Forces), Defence; North Devon, Liberal Democrat)
Recruits joining the Royal Regiment of Scotland (The Scottish Division) are allocated to a particular battalion of the regiment during weeks 10 to 12 of initial training at the Infantry Training Centre in Catterick. All recruits in the Royal Regiment of Scotland are given the opportunity to prioritise their choice of battalion, with the final allocation based on the operational needs of the battalions, balanced with the wishes of the individual. In addition, recruits cannot be assigned to battalions that may deploy while they remain under 18 years of age.
Recruits wishing to join another infantry regiment also recruiting in Scotland may choose alternatively to join The Scots Guards or The Parachute Regiment.