HC Deb 26 January 1966 vol 723 cc206-7
50 Sir T. Beamish

asked the Secretary of State for Defence when the reorganisation of the Reserve Forces is completed in 1969, how many trained men he estimates will be available to play an immediate reinforcement role with the Regular Forces, if he fulfils his intention of recruiting to only 80 per cent. of the war establishment total of

Mr. Reynolds

If the Army Volunteer Reserve were to be recruited to 80 per cent. of its establishment there would be about 80,000 Regular and volunteer reservists available in 1969 to reinforce the Regular Army.

Sir T. Beamish

Does the hon. Gentleman agree that until a man has spent at least one year in the Army Volunteer Reserve he cannot possibly be considered, by any stretch of imagination, to be a trained man able to take his place in a unit overseas? Does not this mean that the effective strength of the A.V.R. is about 27,000, and not the 50,800 which the Government continually quote at us, which is the establishment figure?

Mr. Reynolds

I do not accept the hon. and gallant Gentleman's generalisation. He is obviously unaware of the arrangements we are making for training these Reservists. In any event, I can give him an assurance that a man who was not properly trained would not be sent overseas.

Mr. Powell

Can the Minister give an indication of what he regards as the number of trained men who would be available in the new Army Volunteer Reserve?

Mr. Reynolds

The right hon. Gentleman does not seem to understand that the main purpose of the new Army Volunteer Reserve is to provide certain units which are required to meet certain contingencies. We are perfectly satisfied that the new Army Volunteer Reserve will provide units with training and membership strong enough to enable them to play their part in reinforcing B.A.O.R. and elsewhere.