§ 25. Mr. Buckasked the Secretary of State for Defence, what rôle he envisages for the new Territorial Army Centre soon to be completed in Colchester; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. ReynoldsThe Centre, the building of which is expected to be completed by the end of this year, is designed to replace two old and inadequate Territorial Army Centres in Colchester and will accommodate 14 T.A. units.
§ Mr. BuckDoes not the hon. Gentleman realise that if either he or his right hon. Friend do not soon make a statement about the future of the Territorial Army there will be no soldiers to use this brand-new Centre? Does he not realise also that it is important that he should take up the invitation at the end of the Question to make a statement? The whole of the Territorial Army who are to use this new Centre are in a state of considerable despondency because they feel that their whole future is in jeopardy. This is a very important matter.
§ Mr. ReynoldsThe hon. Gentleman obviously has not been in close contact with the Territorial Army in the last few months; otherwise he would not make such statements about the state of their morale. The morale of the Territorial Army is as high as it has ever been, and recruitment at the moment, as I said in answer to a previous Question, is going quite well.