HC Deb 10 July 1957 vol 573 cc377-8
44. Mr. Kershaw

asked the Secretary of State for War if units on the strategic Reserve in the United Kingdom are given the same training time, facilities and equipment, including exercises in co-operation with other arms, as are units in the British Army of the Rhine.

Mr. John Hare

Training is on very similar lines, although not identical in all the particulars listed by my hon. Friend.

Mr. Kershaw

Does not my right hon. Friend agree that the most important thing about the strategic Reserve is that it should be ready at a moment's notice, and is it not a fact that that has not been the position up to now? Will he say that if we are to have a strategic Reserve stationed at home, the public will, in future, have to accept more, not less, inconvenience from military manœuvres?

Mr. Hare

I quite agree with my hon. Friend that our strategic Reserve must be available at the quickest possible moment. The Question is to do with training, and I have answered that the training given to reserves in England is very much on the same lines as that given in the British Army of the Rhine. I certainly hope that he realises that all training could not be given in the British Army of the Rhine, because we must keep a balance between home and overseas Army postings.

Mr. Kershaw

Is my right hon. Friend aware that in referring to training, I am thinking not of individual but of formation training, which is what we have not had at home up to now?

Mr. Hare

I can tell my hon. Friend that there is to be training at home, on Salisbury Plain, this summer for this purpose.