§ 16. Mr. Shinwellasked the Secretary of State for War to what extent he intends to increase the numbers of British ground troops in the British Army of the Rhine in 1962.
§ Mr. ProfumoApart from the formation of the reserve division in the United Kingdom, which is now in hand, it is unlikely that we shall be able to increase our contribution to N.A.T.O.'s land forces in 1962, except in an emergency.
§ Mr. ShinwellIn introducing the Army Reserve Bill, was it not the intention of the right hon. entleman to fill up the large number of gaps in B.A.O.R.? Was not the impression created in the House and in the country—and certainly in the Press—that he intended to send to B.O.A.R. another 10,000 or 15,000 men?
§ Mr. ProfumoIf the right hon. Gentleman will read the words I used in the Second Reading debate he will see that I made it quite clear that Clause 1 does not add anything to B.A.O.R. What it does is to enable us to maintain the strength of B.A.O.R. throughout the course of next year, roughly at the same strength as it is at the moment.
§ Mr. ShinwellDoes that mean that the Secretary of State, with the approval of the Minister of Defence, will resist 1340 the pressure of Mr. McNamara and the United States Army authorities to increase the number of men for N.A.T.O.?
§ Mr. ProfumoThat question should be put down to my right non. Friend the Minister of Defence.
§ Mr. PagetIs the Secretary of State really telling us that he is satisfied to leave B.A.O.R. in the state of undermanned impotence which it demonstrated itself to be in in the "Spear-point" exercises?
§ Mr. ProfumoIt would be very much more undermanned if the hon. and learned Gentleman and his colleagues did not let us get through the Army Reserve Bill.