HC Deb 20 March 1968 vol 761 cc406-7
28. Dr. David Kerr

asked the Secretary of State for Defence whether he will now make available currently unused resources of his Department for the purpose of training voluntary service personnel seeking to work in socially useful projects either at home or overseas.

Mr. Boyden

As I announced in the debate on Army Estimates on 7th March, we are studying how the Armed Forces could, consistently with their own training needs, improve the help they give the civil community. I must, however, dispel any impression that we have unused resources available for this.

Dr. Kerr

Is my hon. Friend not anxious to preside over a beating swords into ploughshears programme, and one of the useful things which Army and other Forces' experience could provide is help for youngsters going overseas to territories known to our Armed Forces to understand better the kind of conditions which they could find, and the kind of constructive activity in which they will be engaged?

Mr. Boyden

That is a constructive suggestion. It is the sort of thing that we are following up. As far as the Army is concerned, with voluntary service it is better for the Army to give support rather than to take the lead.

Mr. Lubbock

Under the policy of military aid to the civil community to which the hon. Gentleman refers, will he consider making available the services of the Royal Engineers for the building of houses required for the Forces' families coming home?

Mr. Boyden

There is no need for that at all.