§ The Earl of AVONMy Lords, I beg leave to ask the Question which stands in my name on the Order Paper.
The Question was as follows:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what progress has been made in putting into effect the recommendations of the Shapland Report on the Territorial and Army Volunteer Reserve, and in particular the recommendations relating to bounties.
§ Lord STRABOLGIMy Lords, the Government's examination of the recommendations contained in the Shapland Report is at an advanced stage, and I would ask the noble Earl to remain patient for a little longer, until the Government are ready to announce their decision.
§ The Earl of AVONMy Lords, I am very grateful to the noble Lord the Minister for that, I hope, satisfactory reply, in that one will have to wait for it. Is the Minister aware that the bounties were fixed in 1967, and that everybody in the TA is waiting breathlessly for the first ever increase in their bounties?
§ Lord STRABOLGIMy Lords, an increase in the training bounty is one of a large number of recommendations that the Government are considering.
§ The Earl of KIMBERLEYMy Lords, is the Minister aware, not only that the TAVR are happy with the report but that it would be very much appreciated if, if and when the decision is reached, the report could be published at the same time?
§ Lord STRABOLGIMy Lords, the report is an internal document which, regardless of its classification, which is "Restricted", it would not be appropriate to make available.
Earl DE LA WARRMy Lords, would the noble Lord bear in mind that the contents of the Shapland Report, though it is restricted, are known widely to one and all in the TA? Would he also bear in mind that, if the decision about levels of bounty is that they should be in any way less than what has been recommended by General Shapland, it will cause immense consternation in the TA and may well be counter-productive?
§ Lord STRABOLGIMy Lords, with regard to the first part of the noble Earl's question, the Department has not made copies of the report available to the Press. I cannot answer for reports which appeared in The Times when that paper was in circulation. With regard to the training bounty, the Government recognise the arguments for increasing the level of training bounties for members of the Volunteer Reserve Forces. The case for this increased expenditure must of course be weighed with other factors, but these are all being taken into account.
§ Lord SHINWELLMy Lords, do I understand from my noble friend that the report is restricted? May I ask him, further, whether, in the event of the Government arriving at some conclusions, it is not essential that we should know the reason why? Why should it be restricted?
§ Lord STRABOLGIMy Lords, it is, I can confirm, as I said earlier, a restricted document. It is an internal, departmental report made by the Ministry of Defence, though of course I may say that the Council of the TAVR Association was represented on the committee.
Earl DE LA WARRMy Lords, would the noble Lord bear in mind that General Shapland signed the report on 7th June 1978, and that there may therefore be a very good reason why its contents are so widely known—because nine months have elapsed since he signed it?
§ Lord STRABOLGIMy Lords, I am afraid I do not understand the implications of the noble Earl's question.