Vote 8. Miscellaneous Effective Services (Hansard, 15 March 1967)

§ Mr. Goodhew
I am sure that my right hon. and hon. Friends will want me to say how grateful we are to the Under-Secretary for the valiant way in which he has coped with the difficulty of answering a lot of detailed questions at short notice. He knows that it is not our wish that it should be so, and I hope that note will be taken for the future so that we can return to the customary practice of giving each other notice behind the scenes of the sort of questions we are likely to ask, so that Ministers can as far as possible give detailed answers. We would much prefer to do it that way, and hope that the future programmes will be so arranged.
I would add a plea that a look might be given at the old question of classification. I am certain from my own visit with other N.A.T.O. Parliamentarians to American military establishments, including the Strategic Air Command Headquarters, that we are quite unnecessarily strict over our classification of Service affairs and equipment. The Americans take a different view. They say that if it is believed that the Services are a deterrent, it is good for people to know 568 something about them. There is a lot to be said for that view. We could have had a better debate on these Estimates if we were not quite so conscious for the need for classification.
I note that the amount shown under Subhead A(1)—telecommunications—has increased by about £400,000. I was fascinated to see this, because it made me wonder whether it meant that work was being done to build a communications satellite. The Under-Secretary gives me a negative nod and it disappoints me, because I think that this is a sphere in which there is great scope, not only for the application of our technology but for earning valuable foreign currency. I am saddened to know that the £400,000 does not indicate entry into that line.
I see that the cost of publicity and recruiting services is up by £5,000—from £75,000 to £80,000. This is rather surprising seeing that we are running down the R.A.F., but perhaps we find it necessary to advertise more frequently to make sure that it is known that people are still wanted in the Service even though it is being run down.
Apart from the complaint I made yesterday about anticipation, I think that the R.A.F. publicity department does a very good job, and that its advertisements are most appealing. I am sure that if I were a young man thinking of a career I would be very much attracted by that advertising if I were not hampered, as I am, by my spectacles, which prevented me flying in the R.A.F. during the last war.
Welfare expenses show a considerable reduction. Does the sum shown include an allocation for special arrangements for the bringing home of bodies, or the conveying at public expense of relatives to the burials of those who die overseas? That may not come within this Vote, but I would expect that Vote to be increased rather than reduced.
The amount under Subhead K—Administration of the Sovereign Base Areas of Akrotiri and Dhekelia—is up by quite a large amount. I was under the impression that, if anything, we had reduced our strength in those bases, and I would be interested to know—if not today, later—whether that is so, or whether it is merely a question of increasing cost.

§ Mr. Merlyn Rees
It will be found that the reason for the increased cost in Cyprus is nothing catastrophic, but is probably an increase in personnel. I will let the hon. Gentleman have the full answer later.
The item of telecommunications covers rentals and maintenance charges made by the Post Office for telephone, teleprinter and other telecommunication services, and hire facilities abroad. The increased cost is due to the increased requirement for the linesman-mediator traffic control setup we are opening at West Drayton. It appeared in the newspapers recently as the "deadman mediator," but the correct name is linesman-mediator. This is a joint civil and military air traffic control network, and there is a great deal of contact between the Board of Trade and the Ministry of Defence.
This is a very great development, and is at low level and at high level. There is a defence aspect in the low-flying R.A.F. planes, but on the civil side there is the very great problem of large numbers of fast-moving aircraft whistling around the skies and coming in to London Airport. The telecommunications side is obviously of great importance.
I spent some time the other day at Uxbridge and at London Airport visiting R.A.F. personnel working jointly with the civil side. Their work consists of staring all day at radar screens, picking up aircraft coming north and south, long-distance from the United States and from the Continent. It is a remarkable job and, as I say, the West Drayton development is extremely important. It is the reason for the increased expenditure.
I should point out that under publicity are such items as exhibition display material and classified advertising in connection with recruiting. It also includes the printing costs of the R.A.F. newspaper. The costs of large-scale Press and poster advertisements are borne on a different Vote—that of the Central Office of Information—so the item here shown represents a very small part of the total publicity expenditure. I believe that the total expenditure for the three Services is about £3 million.
I would justify that expenditure in this way—because I know that there is ad- 570 verse comment in view of the fact that the Services are reducing. It is not just a question of the Services declining in size. We have to recruit young people, on the one hand and, on the other, people of the right trade. As was said when we debated an earlier Vote, the R.A.F. has never recovered from giving up recruiting altogether in 1963. I will not repeat what I said earlier about the curious situation that arises at the time of a General Election, when all recruiting posters and expenditure have to stop lest they should brush on to the Government of the day some kudos in the election. Nevertheless, that is the fact. It is important that recruiting should go on.
Welfare expenses provide mainly for live entertainment for R.A.F. units, the upkeep of sports gear and equipment, and charges for the supply of films to R.A.F. hospitals and ocean weather ships. This reference gives me the opportunity of saying that I recently spent a longer period than I had hoped in an R.A.F. hospital, so I am able to pay tribute to the great services provided by the R.A.F. hospital branch. The sister who looked after me will be very glad that I got in that remark.

§ Sir Eric Errington (Aldershot)
Before the hon. Gentleman sits down, may I ask him to explain the item relating to the repayments under the terms of the Armed Forces (Housing Loans) Acts arising from the sale of married quarters? What is the reason for this contraction? It seems somewhat unusual when every bit of accommodation is wanted.

§ Mr. Rees
I apologise to the hon. Gentleman, because I do not know the answer now I will look into it and write to him.