HC Deb 01 March 1967 vol 742 cc498-500
35. Mr. Kershaw

asked the Secretary of State for Defence whether he is satisfied that the number of troops at the disposal of the Commander-in-Chief, British Army of the Rhine, is enough to enable that officer to discharge satisfactorily the tasks given to him; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Healey

There are aspects of the N.A.T.O. Commanders' missions, originally defined many years ago, which they have never been in a position to carry out with the forces available to them. That is one reason why N.A.T.O. Defence Ministers decided last July to prepare a new strategy—and thence new missions—more appropriate to the forces which Governments were prepared to make available. Her Majesty's Government believe that the forces at the disposal of the Commander-in-Chief B.A.O.R. are fully adequate for the real needs of the Alliance.

Mr. Kershaw

Did the right hon. Gentleman happen to see the television programme called "24 Hours", in which the Commander-in-Chief spoke? If he did, does he agree with what the Commander-in-Chief said?

Mr. Healey

On this particular matter, I think that the Commander-in-Chief, who perhaps allowed himself more precision than would be wise for a military commander on a matter of this nature, was talking in the same terms as I have myself many times in this House.

Mr. Dobson

Would not the Minister agree that there are too many troops in B.A.O.R. at present, and that he should start negotiations to begin the withdrawal of some of them if he cannot get the offset agreement?

Mr. Healey

There is a good deal in what my hon. Friend says, as I hope I made clear in my speech on Monday.

49. Mr. Bruce-Gardyne

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what estimate he has made of the cost across the exchanges of the British Army of the Rhine in the financial year 1967–68.

Mr. Healey

As stated in Annex H, page 97, of the Statement on the Defence Estimates 1967 (Cmnd. 3203), no estimate of net foreign exchange expenditure on the forces in Germany can be given pending the outcome of discussions with the United States Government and the Federal Republic of Germany.

Mr. Bruce-Gardyne

Are preparations now being made for rehousing up to 20,000 or 30,000 troops and their families from Germany? If not, does not the Chancellor of the Exchequer's statement last weekend about balancing the exchange costs amount, as he said, to an idle bluff?

Mr. Healey

It has been made clear by my right hon. Friend the Prime Minis- ter, and by myself speaking on Monday, that preparations are being made for the scale of withdrawals which might be necessary if our needs are not met.

Mr. Powell

If the right hon. Gentleman cannot answer my hon. Friend's Question—[HON. MEMBERS: "He did."] he said that he did not know; that was his Answer—how can the Prime Minister assert that the savings undertaken in July, 1966, will be obtained in 1967–68?

Mr. Healey

We have made clear in Annex H of the White Paper that, excluding the possible effect of offset payments by Germany, or, alternatively, of reductions in British forces in Germany, we shall achieve a rate of saving of £75 million a year by the end of the next financial year.

Mr. Powell

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that that is not the saving which the Prime Minister foreshadowed in July, 1966?

Mr. Healey

Not at all. The Prime Minister was talking about the total foreign exchange saving in Government overseas expenditure of £100 million. I am referring to the defence component.