HC Deb 24 April 1963 vol 676 cc195-6
8. Mr. Healey

asked the Secretary of State for War how many additional men have to be mobilised to bring the British Army of the Rhine up to war establishment; how long this would take; and what training these men undergo.

Mr. Profumo

It would not be in the public interest to disclose the mobilisation strength of the British Army of the Rhine, but I can say that the necessary reinforcement will take place within days. All the reinforcements will be trained men.

Mr. Healey

Without going into details, where there is a legitimate security interest in keeping them secret, is it not the case that to be fully effective operationally B.A.O.R. would have to call up almost as many men as are already serving in Germany, that most of them would have had no training, and that it would take more than a week to get them there? Is this really a satisfactory situation for an Army whose main function is to be able to react immediately to a local thrust by an enemy without recourse to nuclear weapons?

Mr. Profumo

I told the hon. Gentleman that I was not prepared to go into facts and details of how many days and hours it may take, or how many people were required, and I am sure that he will respect this, but our treaty obligations are to maintain in Germany an Army of 55,000 and there has been no suggestion that our plans for reinforcement up to war strength are unsatisfactory, and I maintain that they are satisfactory.

Mr. Healey

Have not we certain obligations to our own commanders and men serving in Germany? Is it fair on these men to expect them to be ready to engage in operations when they know that they are short of desperately needed specialist and other personnel whom it will take more than a week to get there and who will not be trained when they arrive?

Mr. Profumo

I cannot accept that they will take more than a week to get there. The point is that when the B.A.O.R. is at a strength of 55,000, that is the full peace-time strength. The number of people who would go from this country as reinforcements would be only one-quarter of the people sent there and would in fact initially go to teeth arm units and take their places in formations which would be comprised mainly of Regulars.