§ 10. Mr. Jegerasked the Secretary of State for War which British Army units have been allocated to form part of the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation mobile fire brigade force.
§ Mr. ProfumoIt is planned that a battalion group from the British Army of the Rhine will be provided as our contribution to the Allied Command Europe Mobile Land Force.
§ Mr. JegerCan the right hon. Gentleman say whether that group is up to strength? Is it fully mobile, or is it dependent upon German civilian labour in order to keep it effective? Will he also say whether it is fully equipped not only in men but in materials as well?
§ Mr. ProfumoThis force will be made up in accordance with the requirements of SACEUR and will be capable of carrying out its rôle, which is really the rôle of a fire brigade—to get to a point and act quickly. It consists of an infantry battalion and supporting armour, a field battery, an engineering troop, a detachment of signals and other supporting groups. For this purpose, it is complete and will be able to carry out its tasks.
§ Mr. ProfumoIt is not completely dependent upon it. It can function as the Supreme Allied Commander wants it to, and to that extent it must be independent.