Nicholas Soames: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the future Force Structure of the Royal Armoured Corps is to be. [71099]

Nick Harvey MP; Minister for the Armed Forces: Following on from the Secretary of State for Defence, my right hon. Friend the Member for North Somerset (Dr Fox’s) announcement to the House on 18 July 2011, Official Report, columns 643-645W, the chief of the general staff has directed that a study be undertaken, known as Army 2020, to look at the future design of the Army. The future force structure of the Royal Armoured Corps, both regular and reserve, will be considered as part of this.

It is anticipated that the study will conclude in summer 2012 and, until then, it is too early to say what the future force structure of the Royal Armoured Corps will be.