GIBRALTAR
Sir Nicholas Soames: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what UK (a) military and (b) civilian assets are stationed in Gibraltar; and what their duties are.
Mr Mark Francois, Minister of State for the Armed Forces: As at 28 October 2014 there were around 155 UK military personnel serving in Gibraltar in Headquarters British Forces Gibraltar, the Royal Naval Gibraltar Squadron, and Windmill Hill Signal Station providing a range of enabling functions. A further 705 Ministry of Defence UK-based and locally employed civilian personnel provide support services to Defence operations, including 95 serving in the Gibraltar Defence Police. Additionally, the Royal Gibraltar Regiment comprises 226 full-time and 166 reserve personnel. The role of these assets collectively is to provide for the security and territorial integrity of Gibraltar and British Gibraltar Territorial Waters, and to enable the maintenance of Gibraltar as a forward mounting base for UK military operations. In addition, personnel from the Royal Gibraltar Regiment deploy on UK military operations.