Mr. Taylor:

As a Minister involved 20 years ago in the launch of the Ulster Defence Regiment, I welcome those figures. Will the Ulster Defence Regiment continue to have sufficient resources made available to it to maintain its manpower, especially as it is in competition with other security forces such as the RUC, the Territorial Army and various Irish regiments in the regular British Army? From the experience of the past 20 years, will the Minister ask the Leader of the House to provide time for a debate on the Ulster Defence Regiment so that we can further improve and strengthen that regiment in Northern Ireland, whose service is respected throughout the whole community?