HC Deb 19 February 1964 vol 689 cc1184-5
13. Mr. Shinwell

asked the Minister of Defence what further measures he intends to take in order to meet British commitments by raising land forces to a higher level.

Mr. Thorneycroft

British forces are today meeting our commitments to the full.

Mr. Shinwell

Could not the right hon. Gentleman be a little less laconic? Is not he aware that the purpose of Questions is to gain information and that so far from his replies to several Questions we have gained nothing? In view of his statement, which has been repeated quite often, that our troops are stretched almost to the limit, what about the "Ever-Readies"? What are they ever ready for? Is not our scepticism at the time when the idea was initiated by the then Secretary of State for War justified?

Mr. Thorneycroft

I do not think that brevity in Answers necessarily makes them less informative.

Mr. Shinwell

Is not the right hon. Gentleman being a little contemptuous of the House? Will he be good enough to reply to the Question I put? If our troops are being stretched to the limit, as he and others have said, what about the "Ever-Readies"? What is their purpose? What are they ever ready for?

Mr. Thorneycroft

That is a different question from the one on the Order Paper, because the measures to establish the "Ever-Readies" have already been taken. The "Ever-Readies" provide a very useful reserve if we need to call upon them.