HC Deb 14 November 1956 vol 560 cc941-2
30. Mr. Swingler

asked the Minister of Defence if he will make a statement indicating how long it is intended to retain in the Armed Forces the reservists recalled during August this year.

Mr. Head

I would refer the hon. Member to the statement made last night by my right hon. Friend the Lord Privy Seal.

Mr. Swingler

Cannot the Minister of Defence be more specific? As these men have been recalled now for several months and have had the arduous and odious task of carrying out Government policy, would he not agree that they deserve a break? Cannot he be more specific and give an assurance that as soon as the troops are withdrawn from Suez, the reservists can be demobilised and sent back to their proper occupations?

Mr. Head

My right hon. Friend the Lord Privy Seal said last night that no reservists would be retained for one day longer than was absolutely necessary for operational and other reasons.

Mr. Stokes

With great respect, that is a pig-headed point of view. On what military grounds can the right hon. Gentleman really justify the retention of reservists in this country at present? Surely, he knows just as well as I do—[HON. MEMBERS: "Better."]—I know a damn sight better than hon. Members opposite—

Mr. Speaker

The right hon. Gentleman is really letting his eloquence run away with him.

Mr. Stokes

I apologise, Mr. Speaker, but I meant what I said. May I ask the Minister of Defence on what grounds he sustains this position? Surely he knows perfectly well that he can make such arrangements that these reservists could be recalled summarily, by short notice, by wireless and telegram. There would be no difficulty if he set about it and organised it.

Mr. Head

I think that the right hon. Gentleman, in describing the answer as being pig-headed, is rushing to conclusions. All I said was that no reservists would be retained for a day longer than was necessary. If the right hon. Gentleman uses his head, which I will not describe with any adjective, he will realise that the answer means that a reservist in this country, not required for the present emergency, would be released.